Pregnant Woman at Week 17 of Gestation, Lateral View (Caucasian Skin)

Description

Seen from the side, the maternal torso is shown semi-transparently so that the gravid uterus sits clearly within the true pelvis and lower abdomen at approximately week 17 of gestation. The fetus lies curled within the amniotic sac, head flexed toward the chest, with the umbilical cord looping from the abdominal insertion toward the placenta on the uterine wall. Below the uterine body, the cervix opens into the vaginal canal, while the urinary bladder lies anteriorly behind the pubic bone and the rectum passes posteriorly toward the sacrum. The maternal abdominal wall is beginning to protrude, and the pelvic bone frames the lower margin of the gestational sac. At the midpoint of the second trimester the uterine fundus is rising out of the pelvis toward the umbilicus, which is the anatomical basis for symphysis-fundal height measurement in routine antenatal care. This period also encompasses the anomaly scan window, when fetal biometry, cardiac outflow tracts and placental position are assessed sonographically, and when amniocentesis may be performed. The lateral projection makes clear why bladder capacity falls and why urinary frequency, constipation and low back discomfort become common as the enlarging uterus displaces the bladder anteriorly and the rectum posteriorly. The image suits antenatal education handouts, midwifery and obstetric nursing curricula, and week-by-week pregnancy resources where a consistent lateral view across gestational stages is required. It also works well in textbook figures on uterine growth and fetal positioning, in app or website content for expectant parents, and in clinical communication material explaining second-trimester screening. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.