Biomaterial Database

Evaluation of fetal growth and fetal well-being. 2008

Irene Cetin, and Simona Boito, and Tatjana Radaelli

Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico, Mangiagalli and Regina Elena, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Irene.Cetin@unimi.it

This article reviews the actual knowledge and future developments of ultrasound techniques for the evaluation of fetal growth and well-being. Sonography allows the visualization of the fetus in utero and is utilized worldwide for the evaluation of fetal growth and well-being. Fetal biometry assessment is performed in the second half of pregnancy when deviations of fetal growth can be best recognized through alterations of fetal abdominal circumference growth. Doppler velocimetry of utero-placental vessels identifies alterations of placental perfusion and is valuable in the assessment of fetal brain, heart, and liver perfusion, thus being utilized in the timing of delivery. Recently, three-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of fetal organs and placenta is being developed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D010929	Placentation	The development of the PLACENTA, a highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between mother and FETUS. The process begins at FERTILIZATION, through the development of CYTOTROPHOBLASTS and SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLASTS, the formation of CHORIONIC VILLI, to the progressive increase in BLOOD VESSELS to support the growing fetus.	Hemochorial Placental Development,Hemochorial Placentation,Placental Development,Placental Development, Hemochorial,Placentation, Hemochorial
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260	Female		Females
D005315	Fetal Diseases	Pathophysiological conditions of the FETUS in the UTERUS. Some fetal diseases may be treated with FETAL THERAPIES.	Embryopathies,Disease, Fetal,Diseases, Fetal,Embryopathy,Fetal Disease
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D005865	Gestational Age	The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination.	Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016216	Ultrasonography, Prenatal	The visualization of tissues during pregnancy through recording of the echoes of ultrasonic waves directed into the body. The procedure may be applied with reference to the mother or the fetus and with reference to organs or the detection of maternal or fetal disease.	Fetal Ultrasonography,Prenatal Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonography, Fetal,Diagnosis, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Prenatal Ultrasonography,Ultrasonic Diagnosis, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnosis,Diagnoses, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonic Diagnoses, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnoses