Amniotic Fluid

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Pathology 3 Physiology 4 More General Terms 5 Additional Terms 6 References

Introduction

• fluid that bathes the fetus within the placenta

Pathology

• polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid) may lead to fetal anomalies
• oligohydramnios (too little amniotic fluid) may lead to poor lung development & fetal demise

Physiology

• cushions fetus from physical trauma
• permits fetal lung growth
• provides a barrier against infection
• normal amniotic fluid volume increases with gestational age with a maximum of 800-1000 mL at 36-37 weeks of gestation

• by the latter half of the second trimester, amniotic fluid is primarily fetal urine

More General Terms

• extracellular compartment (extracellular space)
• body fluid

Additional Terms

• oligohydramnios
• polyhydramnios

References

- Boyd RL MedScape: Polyhydramnios and Oligohydramnios [1] amniotic fluid