Emily and her husband are thrilled as they peer into Emily's uterus by means of an ultrasound. The physician reports that the pregnancy appears normal, and that their baby's fingers, toes, heart, and circulatory system are developing as expected. The couple learns that the baby is only an inch long. Given this information, the current stage of prenatal development is the ________.
A) embryonic period
B) germinal period
C) zygotic period
D) fetal stage

Question

Emily and her husband are thrilled as they peer into Emily's uterus by means of an ultrasound. The physician reports that the pregnancy appears normal, and that their baby's fingers, toes, heart, and circulatory system are developing as expected. The couple learns that the baby is only an inch long. Given this information, the current stage of prenatal development is the ________.
A) embryonic period 
B) germinal period
C) zygotic period
D) fetal stage

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The embryonic period is the stage of prenatal development that occurs from fertilization to about 8 weeks of gestation. At this stage, the major organs and systems of the body are forming, and the embryo is most vulnerable to teratogens (agents that can cause birth defects). At an inch long, the baby described in the scenario is likely around 6-7 weeks gestational age, which falls within the embryonic period. The germinal period refers to the first two weeks of gestation, while the zygotic period is not a recognized stage of prenatal development. The fetal stage occurs from about 9 weeks until birth.

Emily and Her Husband Are Thrilled as They Peer into Emily's