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Mechanisms of overgrowth

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Book cover Fetal Growth

Abstract

Human fetal growth is not uniform and its control is complicated. The first level of control is genetic, the second resides in feto-placental homeostatic mechanisms and the third is by the maternal environment acting through the placenta. Tissue patterns and organ primordia are established during embryogenesis, then from the end of the first trimester and throughout the second the fetus undergoes massive cellular hyperplasia. The third trimester is characterised more by cellular hypertrophy, though some hyperplastic development continues. There are the equivalent of some 42 successive mitotic divisions in pregnancy in progressing from a fertilised ovum to a term infant, with only five more divisions being necessary to achieve adult size. Maximal growth velocity in length occurs at approximately 20 weeks of gestation, and in weight at 34 weeks.

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Authors
  1. Professor R. D. G. Milner
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Clinical Sciences Centre, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK

    F. Sharp MD, FRCOG  & R. B. Fraser MD, FRCOG, DCH  & 

  2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Sheffield, Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, S10 2TH, UK

    R. D. B. Milner MA, ScD (Cantab), MD (Lond), FRCP (Lond)

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© 1989 The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

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Milner, R.D.G. (1989). Mechanisms of overgrowth. In: Sharp, F., Fraser, R.B., Milner, R.D.B. (eds) Fetal Growth. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1707-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1707-0_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1709-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1707-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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