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Characteristics of the germinal stage:
-First and shortest stage of the human lifespan
-Starts with fertilisation and ends with implantation in the endometrium of the uterus

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-Fertilisation occurs when a sperm cell combines with an egg cell to form a zygote
-30 hrs after, the cell divides for the first time
-after 3 days, the zygote consists of 16 cells and takes on a spherical shape. Now known as the morula
-then the zygote travels down the fallopian tube and into the uterus

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-The ball of cells is now known as a blastocyst. This begins to implant in the endometrium
-the inner cell mass with become the embryo and the outer cell mass with eventually become the placenta
-the formation of the placenta begins

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Characteristics of the embryonic stage:
-most critical stage of development
-starts with implantation and ends at the eighth week
-characterised by call differentiation (when cells start taking on specialised roles such as heart cells, skin cells and bone cells

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-developing baby is referred to as an embryo
-cells continue to divide rapidly and take on specialised roles

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-Tissues that will become the brain and spine begin to develop
-Around 3 mm in length, the embryo secretes hormones to maintain the endometrium and to prevent the mother from having a menstrual period

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-Buds appear on each side of the embryo that become the limbs
-Heart begins to beat
-It will be several weeks until the placenta is fully functional to access oxygen and nutrients from the mother's bloodstream
-Brain cells are being generated at a rate of 100 per minute

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-Spinal Cord looks like a tail and the head is large in relation to the rest of the body
-Embryo is approximately 1.3cm in length

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-Blood cells are being made in the liver
-Facial features such as the eyes and mouth are forming
-Tiny muscles have formed which allow the embryo to move

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-Embryo is around 2.5 cm in length
-Fingers and toes are starting to form
-Brain is now active

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Characteristics of the foetal stage:
-starts at the ninth week and continues until birth
-unborn baby is known as a 'foetus'
- all organs formed in embryonic stage mature and function in the early stages of the foetal stage
-by 14th week, the placenta is fully formed and functioning

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-all organs are formed but not functioning yet
-in week 11, foetus is 7cm
-teeth begin to form in gums
-eyelids are fused over the eyes

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-in week 14, foetus is 14cm
-tongue develops taste buds
-ears are fully functioning and foetus can hear muffled sounds from the outside world
-the sex can be distinguished via ultrasound

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-in week 22 foetus is 33cm
-foetus will swallow regularly but only amniotic fluid
-eyelids separate into upper and lower lids and the foetus can open and shut its eyes

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-foetus is around 37 cm and weighs approx. 1 kg
-fingers and toes grow nails
-body has grown and its now more in proportion with head size. (will take until childhood to completely catch up)
-in preparation for breathing, production of surfactant begins

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-foetus spends most of its time asleep
-Eyebrows and eyelashes grow
-fat is laid down under the skin to assist with adjusting to life outside the uterus
-foetus moves in a strong and coordinated way

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-Foetus assumes the 'head down' position in preparation for birth
-Lungs develop at a rapid rate during this time
-Foetus is around 50 cm