define teratogen
Teratogens are substances that may produce physical or functional defects in the human embryo or fetus after the pregnant woman is exposed to the substance. Alcohol and cocaine are examples of such substances.
What are 3 examples of teratogens?
Common teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, uncontrolled health problems in the birthing parent. Alcohol is a well-known teratogen that can cause harmful effects on the fetus after exposure at any time during pregnancy.
What are the 4 types of teratogens?
They are:
Toxoplasmosis: A parasitic infection most often associated with kitty litter.Others: Like Treponema pallidum, a bacterial infection that causes syphilis.Rubella: A viral infection that is also known as German measles.Cytomegalovirus (CMV): A common viral infection.
What is a teratogen What are some examples of a teratogen?
A teratogen is any agent that disrupts a baby’s development when a person is exposed to it during pregnancy. Known teratogens include alcohol, smoking, toxic chemicals, radiation, viruses, some maternal health conditions, and certain prescription drugs.
What are 5 types of teratogens?
Teratogenic agents include infectious agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, varicella, herpes simplex, toxoplasma, syphilis, etc.); physical agents (ionizing agents, hyperthermia); maternal health factors (diabetes, maternal PKU); environmental chemicals (organic mercury compounds, polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB,
What are the most common teratogens?
Teratogenic agents include infectious agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, varicella, herpes simplex, toxoplasma, syphilis, etc.); physical agents (ionizing agents, hyperthermia); maternal health factors (diabetes, maternal PKU); environmental chemicals (organic mercury compounds, polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB,
What drugs are teratogenic?
Teratogenic drugs and birth defects
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.angiotensin II antagonist.isotretinoin (an acne drug)alcohol.cocaine.high doses of vitamin A.lithium.male hormones.
What are teratogens in psychology?
n. an agent that induces developmental abnormalities in a fetus. The process that results in these abnormalities is called teratogenesis; a teratomorph is a fetus or offspring with these abnormalities.
When are teratogens most harmful during pregnancy?
The embryonic period, during which organogenesis takes place, occurs between implantation at around 14 days to around 60 days postconception. This is usually the most sensitive period to teratogenesis when exposure to a teratogenic agent has the greatest likelihood of producing a malformation.
How can teratogens affect a pregnancy?
As a baby grows in the womb, teratogens may affect parts of the baby’s body as they are forming. For example, the neural tube closes in the first 3 to 5 weeks of the pregnancy. During this time, teratogens can cause neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
What is a teratogen and how does it affect prenatal development?
A teratogen is something that can cause or raise the risk for a birth defect in a baby. They are things that a mother may be exposed to during her pregnancy. Teratogens include: Some medicines.
How do you prevent teratogens?
Do not use chemicals that may harm your child – This includes pesticides, fungicides, rodenticides, or harsh cleaning products. Do not smoke, use drugs or consume alcohol during pregnancy – These teratogens greatly increase the risk of fetal birth defects and other life threatening conditions.
What are the most common types of birth defects?
Here is a list of the top 10 most common birth defects, according to CDC statistics.
Congenital heart defects (CHD) Occurrence rate: 1 in every 110 births. Hypospadias. Ventricular septal defect. Clubfoot. Down syndrome. Pulmonary valve atresia and stenosis. Cleft lip with cleft palate. Cleft palate.
Is folic acid a teratogen?
Abstract. Nutritional deficiencies are preventable etiological and epigenetic factors causing congenital abnormalities, first cause of infant mortality. Folate deficiency has a well-established teratogenic effect, leading to an increasing risk of neural tube defects.
Is alcohol a teratogen?
Both alcohol and its primary metabolite, acetaldehyde, are teratogenic. Exposure during pregnancy may lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and this is said to occur in a substantial proportion of infants born to mothers who are chronic, heavy daily drinkers.
What is another word for teratogens?
In this page you can discover 10 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for teratogenic, like: embryotoxic, teratogenicity, mutagenic, clastogenic, genotoxic, neuroprotective, carcinogenic, teratogen, hepatotoxic and neurotoxic.
When are teratogens most harmful during pregnancy?
The embryonic period, during which organogenesis takes place, occurs between implantation at around 14 days to around 60 days postconception. This is usually the most sensitive period to teratogenesis when exposure to a teratogenic agent has the greatest likelihood of producing a malformation.
