Fetus at Week 11

Description

Fetus at 11 weeks’ gestation is presented with the placenta and a spiraled umbilical cord against a white field. The disproportionately large cranial vault sits superior to the flexed trunk, with developing upper and lower limbs projecting laterally and distally, and the hands and feet showing separated digital rays rather than paddle-like plates. Placental tissue lies adjacent to the fetal surface, and the umbilical cord courses from the fetal umbilicus to its placental insertion, where the chorionic plate would overlie branching chorionic vessels. Week 11 marks the transition into the fetal period, when organ primordia are established and surface anatomy begins to resemble postnatal proportions while remaining head-dominant. Clinically, this is the window in which crown–rump length is used for first-trimester dating and when nuchal translucency assessment (typically 11 to 13+6 weeks) and cell-free DNA screening discussions often occur, so a fixed, uncluttered view that keeps the fetus, cord, and placenta in one frame supports patient education and teaching. Cord anatomy matters here: a single umbilical vein and paired umbilical arteries in Wharton’s jelly underpin later discussions of single umbilical artery and growth restriction. Embed this illustration in embryology and obstetrics modules to orient learners to early fetal morphology, placental relationships, and normal flexed posture before detailed organ-system coverage. It also fits prenatal counseling handouts, first-trimester screening brochures, and publisher figures that need a week-specific reference with placenta and umbilical cord included. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.