Embryos are dependent on their mothers for a long time and cannot survive on their own. Nevertheless, the internal organs start working early. These continue to develop over the course of the pregnancy and train their skills. This means they are excellently trained when the child is born and from then on has to breathe, digest and think independently. This article presents the different stages of development of the internal organs of embryos and infants.
The development of the heart
The heart is the first organ in an embryo to start working. It is already present in the 6th week of pregnancy (week of pregnancy) and shortly after it has formed, the cardiovascular system begins its work. As the weeks go by, the heart has to adapt and intensify its work to supply the embryo with enough oxygen. Although he is still being cared for by his mother via the umbilical cord, from this week onwards this person's heart will not stop beating until he dies.
Throughout pregnancy, the heart continues to develop and is constantly faced with new challenges. This is important preparation for the time after birth. As soon as the child is born, its heart has to work completely independently and is no longer supported by the mother's organism. This only works through a significant increase in efficiency. The heart prepares for this in the months before.
The child's respiratory system
The Respiratory system of a person develops early on, but is not yet fully developed for a long time. The child is therefore dependent on being cared for by the mother via the umbilical cord throughout the entire pregnancy. The final formation of the lungs does not take place until shortly before birth, but this takes place between the 13th and 16th weeks. First breathing exercises in the week of pregnancy to help the lungs develop and grow healthily. If a premature birth occurs, it is most harmless if it takes place before or after the last growth spurt of the lungs. It is only during this time that it is very dangerous for the child.
After birth, the child has to breathe independently. In order to be able to do this, the lungs expand and start breathing. This usually becomes clear when the child begins to scream loudly. Gas exchange in the lungs then usually works perfectly. This means that oxygen is absorbed from the environment and CO2 is released from the body. Like the heart, the lungs also work uninterrupted and independently throughout life.
Brain and nerves
So-called germ layers have already formed in the 3rd week of pregnancy, from which all organs develop in the following weeks. Last but not least, this includes the brain. In the 8th week of pregnancy, the skull bone does not yet exist because the brain initially needs space to grow and thrive. Brain waves can already be measured in the embryo and the brain is growing rapidly. From around the 12th week of pregnancy, parts of the skull bone are present.
From the 10th week of pregnancy, the embryo's nerves develop. This is the basic requirement for the transport of information between the brain and the rest of the organism. In addition, the embryo now uses its nerve cells to move randomly in the womb. However, these movements are usually not noticed by the mother. In the 12th week of pregnancy the expectant child is also able to make a fist and in the 17th to 20th week. In the week of pregnancy it begins to move in such a way that the mother notices the movements. The brain and nerve cells grow particularly quickly during this time and the first reflexes develop.
The work of the liver and kidneys
The liver and kidneys form around the 7th-8th week. week of pregnancy. They are responsible for detoxifying the body. During this time, this task is primarily taken over by the mother's organism, but the embryo's organs are basically already capable of this. This is also important because the expectant child drinks amniotic fluid from the 15th week of pregnancy. This reaches the kidneys, which filter the water and excrete it as urine. This is a crucial prerequisite for being able to live independently after birth.
After birth, the liver and kidneys are already working and urine continues to be transported out of the body. During pregnancy, something called meconium forms in the child's digestive tract. This is a mostly black substance that consists, among other things, of amniotic fluid, mucus and shed cells. This is usually excreted a few days after birth. However, the child's digestive system is not yet fully developed at this point. It still needs a few weeks to develop further. It therefore takes some time before a child can consume not only breast milk but also solid food.
Other important organs
Many other important organs develop during pregnancy. This includes, for example, the spleen. It forms as early as the 5th week of pregnancy and then continues to develop. Similar to the digestive system, the spleen is not yet fully mature after the child is born. It will therefore continue to grow in the coming weeks and months. This is important because the spleen plays an important role in building the child's immune system as well as in blood formation.
The pancreas is also crucial for a child's healthy life. This also forms early, around the 3rd week of pregnancy. It is responsible for insulin production in the body and therefore maintains it blood sugar level at a tolerable level. However, she must first train and perfect this ability. After the birth of a child, there are occasionally disturbances in the blood sugar balance because the pancreas is not yet working properly.
Conclusion: The internal organs start working early
The internal organs of embryos are formed early and soon start working. They need the time of pregnancy to grow and learn their tasks. While some organs such as the heart, lungs and brain function early and are fully operational at birth, others such as the spleen and pancreas still need some time after birth before they work properly.
October 4, 2023