PSYC 3230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Pathognomonicity, Hip Dysplasia, Hypotonia
4 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Agents that produce abnormalities in the infant. Produce malformations or raise population incidence of malformations. Includes chemicals, metal, x-rays, radiation, disease organisms, viral infections. Two main routes of access to uterine environment: directly through maternal tissue (x-rays) or maternal blood through placenta. Rats are less susceptible to thalidomide than humans, for example. Susceptibility to teratogens varies with the developmental stage at the time of exposure, especially for critical periods. Some teratogens affect the fetus no matter what developmental stage they are in. Teratogens can act on specific cells in several different ways, such as genetic mutations, chromosomal breaks, or nondisjunctions. Four endpoints for teratogens: death of embryo or fetus, birth defects if fetus survives, fetal growth deficiency or premature births, and postnatal functional problems or disabilities. One such as example is diethylstilbestrol (effects seen in daughters of mothers who took the drug for morning sickness)
