| foetal age | Age estimated by anatomic development since implantation, the degree of anatomic, physiologic, mental, and emotional maturation. Synonym: foetal age. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| foetal alcohol effects | A softer diagnosis than foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The diagnosis of possible FAE is considered when: 1. The person has some signs of FAS; 2. The person does not meet all of the necessary criteria for FAS; and 3. There is a history of alcohol exposure before birth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foetal alcohol syndrome | <syndrome> The most common cause of defective cerebral development in industrialised nations, affecting 1 in 700 live births in the United States. This clinical syndrome results from the direct toxic effects of alcohol on the developing foetus. Growth retardation, mental retardation, small brain and heart valve lesions are common. Infants can be identified by close set eyes, small head, small nasal bridge, reduction in the vermilion border of the upper lip, eye folds and small teeth. (27 Sep 1997) |
| foetal anoxia | Foetal oxygen deficiency. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foetal aspiration syndrome | <syndrome> A syndrome resulting from uterine aspiration of amniotic fluid and meconium by the foetus, usually caused by hypoxia and often leading to aspiration pneumonia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal attitude | Relationship of one foetal part to another. Synonym: foetal attitude. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal blood | Blood of the foetus. Exchange of nutrients and waste between the foetal and maternal blood occurs via the placenta. The cord blood is blood contained in the umbilical vessels at the time of delivery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foetal bradycardia | A foetal heart rate of less than 100 beats per minute. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal calf serum | <cell culture> The serum originating from embryonic calves and an expensive component of standard culture media for many types of animal tissue cells. It is used as an important part of growth media for promoting the growth of tissue cultures. It provides a source of growth hormones and other growth factors. (11 Nov 1997) |
| foetal circulation | The blood circulation in the foetus before birth. Before birth, the blood from the heart headed for the lungs in the aptly named pulmonary artery is shunted away from the lungs and returned to the greatest of arteries, the aorta. This arterial shunting occurs through a short vessel called the ductus arteriosus. When the shunt is open, it is said to be patent (pronounced pá tent). The ductus arteriosus usually tourniquets itself off at or shortly after birth. After closure of the ductus, blood is permitted from that time on to course freely to the lungs. Sometimes, however, the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) persists and simply will not close by itself. Surgery is then done to ligate (tie off) the ductus PDA ligation is a closed-heart operation. Historically, it was one of the earliest surgical procedures performed in children with cardiovascular disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foetal cotyledon | A unit of the foetal placenta supplied by the vessels of a stem villus; several such cotyledon's may occur between two placental septa; traditionally called embryologists' cotyledon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal death | <radiology> No foetal movement, no foetal heart movement, scalp oedema, Spalding's sign, hyperextended spine, thrombus within heart (12 Dec 1998) |
| foetal death rate | The number of foetal deaths divided by the sum of live births and foetal deaths occurring in the same population during the same time period. Synonym: stillbirth rate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal development | Morphologic and physiologic growth and development of the mammalian embryo or foetus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foetal distress | Compromise of the foetus during the antepartum period (before labour) or intrapartum period (birth process). (12 Dec 1998) |