EPSY 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Prenatal Development, Miscarriage, Blastocyst

• School: UIC
• Department: Educational Psychology
• Course: EPSY 100
• Professor: Katsiaficas, Dalal C.

Document Summary

Transformative process in which the fertilized ovum, or zygote, progresses through several periods of development, finally emerging from womb as neonate. Begins with conception: union of ovum and sperm. Zygote begins cell division as it travels down fallopian tube toward uterus. Cell differentiation: cells begin to specialize and are no longer identical. Blastocyst: fluid-filled sphere with cells forming protective circle around inner cluster of cells from which embryo will develop. Outer layer forms placenta: principal organ of exchange between mother and baby. All organs and major body systems form. Cells split into layers (ectoderm, endoderm, mesoderm), which form different body systems. Serious defects during this period often cause miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion (loss of fetus). Appearance of bone, rapid growth, increasing complexity, and functionality of organs. Agent that causes damage to prenatal development, such as disease, drug, or other environmental factor, producing a birth defect. Field that attempts to find causes of birth defects so they may be avoided.