A pregnant woman is having an ultrasound done eight weeks into prenatal development. She is surprised by the size of the embryo's head when she sees the image on the screen. The doctor reassures her that this is typical and that it is due to the _____ pattern of development.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cephalocaudal pattern of development refers to the fact that growth and development proceed from the head downward. During embryonic development, the head is one of the first structures to form, which is why the embryo's head may appear larger than the rest of its body during an ultrasound at eight weeks. This is a typical part of development and is nothing to be concerned about. The other answer choices (proximodistal, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis) do not explain why the embryo's head appears larger and are not as relevant to this specific scenario.

A Pregnant Woman Is Having an Ultrasound Done Eight Weeks