foetus
Meaning: An unborn human offspring from the ninth week after fertilisation until birth, by which point the major structures are recognisably formed. The British spelling is 'foetus,' while American English uses 'fetus.'
The foetal stage follows the embryonic period and is characterised by growth and maturation rather than the initial formation of organs. In medical and legal contexts, the distinction between embryo and foetus can carry significant implications, particularly in discussions of viability, prenatal screening, and termination law. The adjective form is 'foetal.'
Examples
- The ultrasound revealed that the foetus was developing normally at twenty weeks. 超声波检查显示胎儿在第二十周时发育正常。La ecografía reveló que el feto se estaba desarrollando con normalidad a las veinte semanas.超音波検査により、胎児は20週の時点で正常に発育していることが明らかになった。초음파 검사에서 태아가 20주 시점에 정상적으로 발육하고 있음이 확인되었다.
- Exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy can impair foetal brain development. 妊娠期间接触某些化学物质可能损害胎儿的大脑发育。La exposición a determinadas sustancias químicas durante el embarazo puede perjudicar el desarrollo cerebral del feto.妊娠中に特定の化学物質に曝露されると、胎児の脳の発達が損なわれる可能性がある。임신 중 특정 화학물질에 노출되면 태아의 뇌 발달이 손상될 수 있다.
- The surgeon performed a pioneering operation to correct the heart defect while the foetus was still in the womb. 外科医生在胎儿仍在子宫内时进行了一项开创性手术来矫正心脏缺陷。El cirujano realizó una operación pionera para corregir el defecto cardíaco mientras el feto aún se encontraba en el útero.外科医は胎児がまだ子宮内にいる間に、心臓の欠陥を矯正する先駆的な手術を行った。외과의는 태아가 아직 자궁 내에 있는 상태에서 심장 결함을 교정하는 선구적인 수술을 시행했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: medical, academic
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin 'fetus' meaning offspring or the bearing of young. The British spelling 'foetus' arose from a medieval misapprehension that the word derived from 'foetare' (to breed), though modern medical Latin retains the original 'fetus.'
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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