"MeSH" links open in new window and lead to Medical Subject Headings database definitions hosted by National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Homo sapiens
Unique characteristics of human reproduction and life history traits
"...humans exhibit relatively low per-copula fertility in association with concealed ovulation, an especially invasive form of hemochorial placentation coupled with copious mensruation compared to other primates, and remarkable fatness in babies, well beyond that of other mammals. Finally, humans have evolved substantial alterations in life history, with neurologically precocial yet physically altricial infants, remarkably short interbirth intervals despite the high cost to mothers of fetal development, a relatively elongated childhood, a greatly extended adult stage, and a postreproductive period in females associated with alloparental care."Crespi BJ. The origins and evolution of genetic disease risk in modern humans. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Sep;1206:80-109.
Developmental stages, pregnancy
- prenatal
- embryo
MeSH
- first trimester
the beginning third of a human pregnancy, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (menstruation) through the completion of 14 weeks (98 days) of gestation
MeSH
- pre-implantation embryo
- zygote
MeSH
1-cell embryo, fertilized ovum,
Carnegie 1 - cleavage MeSH dividing egg, 2-3 dpc, Carnegie 2
- morula
MeSH
an early embryo that is a compact
mass of about 16 blastomere;
it resembles a cluster of mulberries
with two types of cells,
outer cells and inner cells - blastocyst
MeSH
16-40-cell embryo, 2-4 dpc,
Carnegie 3-5- hatching 4-5 dpc, Carnegie 3
- attachment 6 dpc, Carnegie 4
- implantation 7-12 dpc, Carnegie 5a-5c
- zygote
MeSH
1-cell embryo, fertilized ovum,
- post implantation
embryo 13-56 dpc, Carnegie 6-23;
organogenesis takes place:
hematopoiesis, development
of nervous systems,
development of heart, lungs
and other internal organs,
development of limbs
- pre-implantation embryo
- first trimester
the beginning third of a human pregnancy, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (menstruation) through the completion of 14 weeks (98 days) of gestation
MeSH
- fetus
MeSH
fetal period starts at 12th or at 14th weeks of gestation (according to
different sources); the organogenesis is complete and the embryo is only grows in size
- second trimester the middle third of a human pregnancy, from the beginning of the 15th through the 28th completed week (99 to 196 days) of gestation MeSH
- third trimester the last third of a human pregnancy, from the beginning of the 29th through the 42nd completed week (197 to 294 days) of gestation MeSH
- embryo
MeSH
- post natal
- neonate MeSH newborn, 0-30 days old
- infant
MeSH
a child between 1 and 23 months of age
Tillett T. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 May - child MeSH a person 6 to 12 years of age
- juvenile MeSH a person 13 to 18 years of age
- adult
MeSH
- middle aged MeSH a person 19 to 44 years of age
- aged
MeSH
a person 65 through 79 years of age
Barrett JR. Environ Health Perspect. 2009 January - elderly MeSH a person 80 years of age and older
Pregnancy
- Major topic Pregnancy (complications) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (history) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (blood) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (diagnosis) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (drug effects) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (genetics) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (prevention and control) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (metabolism) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (psychology) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (radiation effects) : Free full text articles
- Major topic Pregnancy (urine) : Free full text articles
Other resources
- Important information about pregnancy (medical alerts and advisories) at NLM: here
Aging
- Major topic Aging: Free full text articles

