Human Fetus in the Womb at 22 Weeks (Black Skin)

Description

The fetus is shown in the characteristic flexed attitude of the second trimester, head inferior and turned toward the viewer, spine convex, with the thighs drawn up to the abdomen and the arms folded across the chest so that one hand lies near the face. Fingers and toes are fully separated and the nail beds are forming, while the skin remains thin and translucent over the subcutaneous tissue, giving the reddish tone typical of this stage. The umbilical cord leaves the abdominal wall at the umbilicus and coils in a helical spiral, its two umbilical arteries and single umbilical vein visible through the covering of Wharton's jelly. The cord inserts near the centre of the discoid placenta, whose maternal surface is applied to the uterine wall; branching endometrial vasculature is faintly visible in the surrounding decidua. Twenty-two weeks sits at the threshold of viability, making this a reference point for counselling on extreme preterm birth, for surveys of fetal growth, and for anomaly follow-up after the mid-trimester scan. The depicted geometry corresponds to what sonographers assess at this stage: fetal lie and presentation, biometry of the head and abdomen, limb and hand posture, placental site and cord insertion, and umbilical artery Doppler waveforms used in the surveillance of growth restriction. Cord coiling and the three-vessel cord are themselves screening items, since a single umbilical artery or abnormal coiling index is associated with growth and structural concerns. The rendering suits obstetric and midwifery teaching on second-trimester development, embryology and prenatal anatomy chapters, and antenatal clinic material explaining fetal position and placental function to expectant parents. It also serves ultrasound training modules, publication figures on fetoplacental circulation, and public-health or media graphics on gestational timelines. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.