Correct option is A
The germinal period refers to the very early stage of prenatal development, which begins at conception and lasts until about the second week of pregnancy. During this time, the fertilized egg (zygote) travels down the fallopian tube and begins the process of cell division. This period is also referred to as the period of the ovum because the fertilized egg is referred to as the ovum during this early phase. It ends when the zygote becomes implanted in the uterine wall and starts developing into an embryo.
Information Booster:
- The germinal period lasts from fertilization to the point of implantation, which typically occurs within the first two weeks after conception.
- During this period, the zygote undergoes rapid cell division and forms a blastocyst that attaches to the uterine wall.
- The germinal period is characterized by critical processes like the formation of the placenta and initial stages of the embryo's development.
- It is the first of three stages in prenatal development: the germinal period, the embryonic period, and the fetal period.
- The successful implantation of the blastocyst is crucial for further development and the continuation of pregnancy.
- This stage is vital for establishing the foundations of prenatal growth and the development of early organs.
Additional Information:
- (b) Period of embryo: The period of the embryo begins after the germinal period, from the second week through the eighth week, when the major organs begin to form.
- (c) Period of fetus: The fetal period begins at the ninth week and lasts until birth, characterized by rapid growth and further development of the organs and systems.