Foetal development

This talk introduces Foetal Development, using it as a basis for further exploration of the stages of fetal development from conception to birth, highlighting the dramatic changes in each trimester. We will discuss the formation of organs and support structures, growth and maturation of systems, and how maternal and fetal physiology interact throughout pregnancy. Key developmental milestones and physiological adaptations that prepare the fetus for life outside the womb will also be addressed.. Today’s lecture will cover the journey of foetal development—how life evolves from a single cell to a fully formed baby. Development spans three trimesters, each marked by rapid changes. The first trimester, from conception to week thirteen, covers fertilization, implantation, and organ formation. The second trimester, weeks fourteen to twenty-seven, brings growth, organ maturation, and movement. The third trimester, week twenty-eight to birth, prepares the fetus for survival as systems mature and weight increases. Throughout these stages, maternal and foetal physiology work together so each system and organ forms in sequence. Conception begins when a sperm fertilizes an oocyte, forming a zygote with a full set of chromosomes. The zygote divides as it travels down the fallopian tube and, upon reaching the uterus, becomes a blastocyst with regions for the fetus and extra-embryonic structures like the placenta. Implantation anchors the blastocyst in