teratogen
Birth defect cause
A teratogen is an agent that causes malformation in a developing embryo or fetus.
Teratogens include certain drugs, infections, chemicals, and radiation.
Thalidomide is the most infamous teratogen—a sedative prescribed to pregnant women in the 1950s and 60s that caused severe limb defects in thousands of children.
Alcohol is a known teratogen.
Study of developmental defects
- animal modelSpecies used for research
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
Congenital CNS malformation
- spina bifidaVertebral column fails to close
- anencephalyCongenital absence of brain
- cleft palateCongenital oral roof opening
- cleft lipOral birth defect
heart defect · microcephaly · hydrocephalus · fetal alcohol syndrome · congenital heart disease · clubfoot · amelia · polydactyly
Sedative causing fetal deformities
- phenytoinAnticonvulsant blocking sodium channels
- warfarinClot-preventing medication
- methotrexateAntifolate chemotherapy agent
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
mercury · lead · lithium · diethylstilbestrol · retinoids · tetracycline · androgens · methylmercury
Formation of early life
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- gastrulationEmbryo forms primary layers
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
fetal development · critical period · first trimester · apoptosis · dose-response
Viral illness with rash
- cytomegalovirusWidespread herpes-type infection agent
- toxoplasmosisParasitic infection from cats
- Zika virusFlavivirus spread by mosquitoes
- herpes simplexLatent blister-causing virus
varicella · syphilis · parvovirus · listeria · transplacental
Fetal contact with substances
- occupational hazardDanger specific to one's profession
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- contraindicatedMedically inadvisable due to risk
- drug safetyMonitoring medicines for harm
teratology
Study of developmental defects
- animal modelSpecies used for research
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
neural tube defect
Congenital CNS malformation
- spina bifidaVertebral column fails to close
- anencephalyCongenital absence of brain
- cleft palateCongenital oral roof opening
cleft lip · heart defect · microcephaly · hydrocephalus · fetal alcohol syndrome · congenital heart disease · clubfoot · amelia · polydactyly
thalidomide
Sedative causing fetal deformities
- phenytoinAnticonvulsant blocking sodium channels
- warfarinClot-preventing medication
- methotrexateAntifolate chemotherapy agent
alcohol · mercury · lead · lithium · diethylstilbestrol · retinoids · tetracycline · androgens · methylmercury · cadmium
embryogenesis
Formation of early life
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- gastrulationEmbryo forms primary layers
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
differentiation · fetal development · critical period · first trimester · apoptosis · dose-response
rubella
Viral illness with rash
- cytomegalovirusWidespread herpes-type infection agent
- toxoplasmosisParasitic infection from cats
- Zika virusFlavivirus spread by mosquitoes
herpes simplex · varicella · syphilis · parvovirus · listeria · transplacental
prenatal exposure
Fetal contact with substances
- occupational hazardDanger specific to one's profession
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- contraindicatedMedically inadvisable due to risk
drug safety · bioaccumulation · chronic exposure · susceptibility
- hazardsfire hazard, fire hazards, toxin, contamination, tripping hazard
- hazardous substancescyanide, arsine, mustard gas, nerve gas, phosgene
- toxicologytoxicology, poison, toxin, venom, toxicity
- teratogensteratogens, thalidomide, methotrexate, valproate, warfarin
- safety signswarning sign, warning signs, danger sign, caution sign, warning labels
- embryologyembryo, zygote, embryology, blastocyst, embryogenesis
teratogenprenatal vitamin
Nutrient pill for expectant mothers
folic acid · growth factor · nutrient · placebo · mutagen