What is a teratogen and how does it affect prenatal development?
A teratogen (ter-AT-uh-jen) is something that can cause or raise the risk for a birth defect in a baby. They are things that a mother may be exposed to during her pregnancy. Teratogens include: Some medicines.
What are prenatal teratogens?
A teratogen is any agent that causes an abnormality following fetal exposure during pregnancy. Teratogens are usually discovered after an increased prevalence of a particular birth defect. For example, in the early 1960’s, a drug known as thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness.
What are the common teratogens and their effects?
Common teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, uncontrolled health problems in the birthing parent. Alcohol is a well-known teratogen that can cause harmful effects on the fetus after exposure at any time during pregnancy.
What are teratogens explain?
Teratogen: Any agent that can disturb the development of an embryo or fetus. Teratogens may cause a birth defect in the child. Or a teratogen may halt the pregnancy outright. The classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal infections, chemicals, and drugs.
What are the five general principles concerning the effects of teratogens on prenatal development?
In considering the effects of drugs on pregnancy, it is important to remember the 6 principles of teratology: genetic susceptibility, development stage, mechanisms, end points, access, and dose response.
What are environmental teratogens?
Teratogens are defined as any environmental factor that can produce a permanent abnormality in structure or function, restriction of growth, or death of the embryo or fetus.7.
What are 5 types of teratogens?
Teratogenic agents include infectious agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, varicella, herpes simplex, toxoplasma, syphilis, etc.); physical agents (ionizing agents, hyperthermia); maternal health factors (diabetes, maternal PKU); environmental chemicals (organic mercury compounds, polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB.
What is a teratogen What are some examples of a teratogen what factors influence a teratogen?
A teratogen is a substance that may lead to birth defects in an embryo or fetus. During pregnancy, exposure to certain chemicals, infections, and drugs may increase the risk that a person will miscarry or that the embryo or fetus could have a developmental abnormality. Alcohol and smoking are two common teratogens.
When do teratogens have the greatest effects?
The embryonic period, during which organogenesis takes place, occurs between implantation at around 14 days to around 60 days postconception. This is usually the most sensitive period to teratogenesis when exposure to a teratogenic agent has the greatest likelihood of producing a malformation.
When are teratogens most harmful during pregnancy?
A teratogen is any agent that causes abnormalities when a developing baby is exposed to it during the mother’s pregnancy. These “environmental exposures” can cause birth defects and other problems. Teratogens are can have effects that range from mild to severe, and they are often most dangerous during early pregnancy…
What are the four most common teratogens?
Known Teratogens angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as Zestril and Prinivil alcohol aminopterin androgens, such as methyltestosterone (Android) busulfan (Myleran) carbamazepine (Tegretol) chlorobiphenyls cocaine coumarins warfarin (Coumadin)
When do teratogens affect fetus?
During the first two weeks of gestation, teratogenic agents usually kill the embryo rather than cause congenital malformations. Major malformations are more common in early embryos than in newborns; however, most severely affected embryos are spontaneously aborted during the first six to eight weeks of gestation.
What are 3 examples of teratogens?
Examples of teratogens include: Chemicals. Prescription and over-the-counter medications. Radiation. Viruses. Drugs. Stressors. Malnutrition, which can impair prenatal development.