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Fetal Movements. Though They May Be Spontaneous, Yet There is Method in Them

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Fetal MRI

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

The spontaneous movements of the newborn infant have a long prenatal history: from 7 weeks and 2 days onward, the human embryo moves. Already 2–3 weeks later, the spontaneously generated motility shows a rich repertoire of coordinated and identifiable patterns. Once a movement pattern is stabilized, it remains present for at least until term, but usually for longer, sometimes even for life. Embryonic and fetal movements are necessary for the proper development of the skeletal, muscular, and neural systems, or vice versa; normal fetal development requires adequate fetal activity. Hence, function is an integral part of normal development, and the prenatal use of an (albeit immature) structure is necessary for the continuing and normal development of the very structure.

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  1. Institute of Physiology, Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Christa Einspieler & Heinz F. R. Prechtl

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  1. Christa Einspieler
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Correspondence to Christa Einspieler .

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  1. Klinik für Radiodiagnostik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Wien, 1090, Austria

    Daniela Prayer

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Einspieler, C., Prechtl, H.F.R. (2010). Fetal Movements. Though They May Be Spontaneous, Yet There is Method in Them. In: Prayer, D. (eds) Fetal MRI. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2010_18

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