Foetus & Birth
Science: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 2.2.3
Foetus & Birth
Human organs are formed during gestation.
Organ Development
- One of the earliest organs to form is the heart.
- The heart forms at about week 5.
- The heart measures about 4 mm at this point.
- In the following weeks, the other organs and features begin to form.
Foetus
- By week 10, the embryo is now called a foetus.
- An embryo becomes a foetus when it has all the major organs and features of a human.
- The foetus continues to grow and develop until around week 40.
The baby is born
- The baby is born after an average of 40 weeks.
- Babies have a mass of around 7-8 lbs and measure about 50 cm in length when they are born.
Test yourself on Foetus & Birth
At what week does the heart form for an unborn baby?
How much does the heart measure when it's formed during gestation?
At what week can the embryo be called a foetus?
What are the average measurements of a baby when it is born?