amniotic fluid

Examples of amniotic fluid in the following topics:

• Amnion Development

  • The amnion contains the fluid that cushions and protects the fetus.
  • This cavity is roofed in by a single stratum of flattened, ectodermal cells called the amniotic ectoderm.
  • Outside the amniotic ectoderm is a thin layer of mesoderm (continuous with that of the somatopleure), which is connected by the body stalk with the mesodermal lining of the chorion.
  • When first formed, the amnion is in contact with the body of the embryo, but by about the fourth or fifth week, amniotic fluid (liquor amnii) begins to accumulate within it.
  • The amniotic fluid allows some free movement for the fetus during the later stages of pregnancy and also diminishes the risk of injury.

• Taste and Smell at Birth and in Old Age

  • Newborns are born with odor and taste preferences acquired in the womb from the smell and taste of amniotic fluid, which, in turn, is influenced by what the mother eats.
  • Intrauterine olfactory learning may be demonstrated by behavioral evidence that newborn infants respond positively to the smell of their own amniotic fluid.
  • As demonstrated by animals in the wild (the great apes, for example), the offspring is held by the mother immediately after birth without cleaning and is continually exposed to the familiar odor of the amniotic fluid (making the transition from the intrauterine to extrauterine environment less overwhelming).

• Development of the Urinary System

  • Urine excreted into the amniotic cavity by the fetus forms a major component of the amniotic fluid.

• Exercise and Pregnancy

  • Contraindications for exercise include, vaginal bleeding, dyspnea before exertion, dizziness, headache, chest pain, muscle weakness, preterm labor, decreased fetal movement, amniotic fluid leakage, and calf pain or swelling (to rule out thrombophlebitis).

• Oxytocin and Childbirth

  • As labor progresses, the amniotic sac can rupture, causing a slow or a fast gush of fluids.
  • Labor usually begins within a 24 hour period after the amniotic sac has ruptured.
  • The amniotic fluid is drained, and the baby is delivered.
  • The baby's mouth and nose are cleared of fluids, and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut.

• Down Syndrome

  • Amniocentesis is an invasive procedure and involves taking amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac and identifying fetal cells.

• Onset of Labor

  • As labor progresses the amniotic sac can rupture and cause a slow or a fast gush of fluids.
  • Labor usually begins within a 24-hour period after the amniotic sac ruptures.

• Blastocyst Formation

  • The trophoblast surrounds the inner cell mass and a fluid-filled, blastocyst cavity known as the blastocoele or the blastocystic cavity.
  • Spaces appear between the remaining cells of the mass and, by the enlargement and coalescence of these spaces, a cavity called the amniotic cavity is gradually developed.

• Bilaminar Embryonic Disc Development

  • The floor of the amniotic cavity is formed by the embryonic disc.
  • The floor of the amniotic cavity is formed by the embryonic disc, which is composed of a layer of prismatic cells and the embryonic ectoderm.
  • As the embryo progresses in implantation, a small space appears in the embryoblast and forms the amniotic cavity.
  • The epiblast forms the floor of the amniotic cavity and is continuous with the amnion.

• Body Cavity Membranes

  • The main purpose of these cells is to produce a lubricating fluid that is released between layers, providing a slippery, non-adhesive, and protective surface to facilitate intracoelomic movement.The mesothelium is also involved in the transport and movement of fluid and particulate matter across the serosal cavities, leukocyte migration in response to inflammatory mediators, synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix proteins to aid in serosal repair, and the release of factors to promote the disposition and clearance of fibrin (such as plasminogen).
  • The primary function of the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid is to protect the central nervous system.
  • It is composed of fibrous tissue and, like the pia mater, is covered by flat cells also thought to be impermeable to fluid.
  • It is a very thin membrane composed of fibrous tissue covered on its outer surface by a sheet of flat cells thought to be impermeable to fluid.
  • The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom—it covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs—in amniotes and some invertebrates (annelids, for instance).