The vesicula umbilicalis may still be distinguished in the second month as
a small vesicle, not larger than a pea, near the insertion of the cord, at
the navel, and external to the amnion. From the trunk, which is almost
entirely occupied by the abdominal cavity, arises a short thick umbilical
cord, in which some of the convolutions of the intestines may still be
traced. Besides these it usually contains, as already observed, the two
umbilical arteries and the umbilical vein, the urachus, the vasa
omphalo-meseraica, or vein and artery of the vesicula umbilicalis, and
perhaps, even at this period, the duct of communication between the
intestinal canal and vesicula umbilicalis, the foetal extremity of which,
according to Professor Oken's views, forms the processus vermiformis.
[Illustration: _Diagram of the foetus and membranes about the sixth week._
_a_ Chorion. _b_ The larger absorbent extremities, the site of the
placenta. _c_ Allantois. _d_ Amnion. _e_ Urachus. _é_ Bladder. _f_
Vesicula umbilicalis. _g_ Communicating canal between the vesicula
umbilicalis and intestine. _h_ Vena umbilicalis. _i i_ Arteriæ
umbilicales. _l_ Vena omphalo-meseraica. _k_ Arteria omphalo-meseraica.
_n_ Heart. _o_ Rudiment of superior extremity. _p_ Rudiment of lower
extremity. _From Carus._]
The hands seem to be fixed to the shoulders without arms, and the feet to
adhere to the ossa illi; the liver seems to fill the whole abdomen; the
ossa innominata, the ribs, and scapulæ are cartilaginous.
In a short time the little stump-like prominences of the extremities
become longer, and are now divided into two parts, the superior into the
hand and the fore arm, the inferior into the foot and leg; in one or two
weeks later, the arms and thighs are visible. These parts of the
extremities which are formed later than the others, are at first smaller,
but as they are gradually developed they become larger. When the limbs
begin to separate into an upper and lower part, their extremities become
rounder and broader, and divided into the fingers and toes, which at first
are disproportionately thick, and until the end of the third month are
connected by a membranous substance analogous to the webbed feet of water
birds; this membrane gradually disappears, beginning at the extremities of
the fingers and toes, and continuing the division up to their insertion.
The external parts of generation, the nose, ears, and mouth appear after
the development of the extremities. The insertion of the umbilical cord
changes its situation to a certain degree; instead of being nearly at the
inferior extremity of the foetus as at first, it is now situated higher up
on the anterior surface of the abdomen. The comparative distance between
the umbilicus and pubis continues to increase, not only to the full period
of gestation, when it occupies the middle point of the length of the
child's body, as pointed out by Chaussier, but even to the age of puberty,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account