Fetus at Week 23 - Caucasian Skin

Description

Fetus at 23 weeks’ gestation is presented with the placenta and umbilical cord in a single, fixed pose against a white background. Craniofacial proportions remain head-dominant, with identifiable auricles, eyelids, and a defined nasal bridge, while the thorax and abdomen sit inferior to the rib cage with a visible umbilical insertion. Upper and lower limbs extend laterally from the trunk, and the hands and feet show separated digits; the cord courses from the anterior abdominal wall to the fetal surface of the placenta, with branching vessels spreading within the chorionic plate. Week 23 sits near the threshold where clinicians discuss periviability, so gestational age specific anatomy matters for counseling, documentation, and correlation with ultrasound biometry. Placental relationship and cord anatomy matter in their own right: abnormal cord insertion (marginal or velamentous), true knots, and single umbilical artery are evaluated in this window because they track with fetal growth restriction and intrapartum risk. Even in an isolated studio setting, the consistent lighting and uncluttered field help separate fetal contour from the placental disk, which is useful when teaching what belongs to the fetus versus the supporting membranes and placenta. Use this illustration in obstetrics and embryology lectures covering second-trimester morphologic milestones, in prenatal education materials explaining the placenta and umbilical cord, or in publisher layouts that need a gestational age accurate fetus without surrounding maternal anatomy. It also supports clinical handouts and grand rounds slides when discussing anatomy scan findings, fetal growth restriction workups, or placental cord insertion variants. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.