Fetus at Week 38 - Caucasian Skin

Description

Fetus at 38 weeks’ gestation is presented as a full-term body with placenta and umbilical cord in the same frame, allowing the fetal umbilicus to be read in direct continuity with the cord insertion on the placental disc. Flexed posture dominates, with the head positioned superior to the trunk and the thighs drawn toward the abdomen, a typical late-gestation relationship that reduces uterine volume demand. The placenta lies adjacent to the fetus, and the cord courses from the anterior abdominal wall toward the chorionic surface, where the fetal vessels would arborize beneath the amnion. At week 38, teaching often shifts from organogenesis to delivery-relevant anatomy: fetal lie and attitude, placental attachment, and cord length and position relative to the fetus. Cord and placental relationships matter in scenarios such as nuchal cord, true knot, velamentous or marginal insertion, and vasa previa, where the fetal vessels traverse membranes without Wharton’s jelly protection and can be endangered during rupture of membranes. Neutral white background and isolated presentation keep attention on gross morphology, and the inclusion of the placenta supports explanations of fetoplacental circulation, including the paired umbilical arteries and single umbilical vein within the cord. Use this illustration for obstetrics lectures on term pregnancy, embryology blocks covering late fetal development, and patient-facing materials that need an anatomically correct overview of the fetus, placenta, and umbilical cord in one static composition. Ideal for atlases, journal figures discussing placental abnormalities, and clinical slide decks on third-trimester assessment and delivery planning. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.