What are teratogens and examples?
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. Some teratogens are more concerning than others.
What are physical teratogens?
Physical Agents Exposure to certain necessary medical interventions, workplace hazards, or heat can pose a risk to fetuses as well. Radiation exposure and heat are both considered physical teratogens. Radiation, also called electric and magnetic fields, is either ionizing or non-ionizing.
What are some known teratogens?
Known Teratogens
- angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as Zestril and Prinivil.
- alcohol.
- aminopterin.
- androgens, such as methyltestosterone (Android)
- busulfan (Myleran)
- carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- chlorobiphenyls.
- cocaine.
What are teratogenic factors?
The factors that induce congenital malformations are termed the “teratogenic factors”; they include infectious, physical, chemical, hormonal, and maternal health factors.
What are teratogens specifically what are the principles of teratogens?
In considering the effects of drugs on pregnancy, it is important to remember the 6 principles of teratology: genetic susceptibility, development stage, mechanisms, end points, access, and dose response.
What is teratogenesis write an essay on teratogenesis?
Teratogenesis is a prenatal toxicity characterized by structural or functional defects in the developing embryo or fetus. It also includes intrauterine growth retardation, death of the embryo or fetus, and transplacental carcinogenesis (in which chemical exposure of the mother initiates cancer development in the…
What is Teratology in biology?
Teratology is the branch of medical science which studies the causes and underlying mechanisms of congenital birth defects. A teratogen can consist of any chemical, infectious or environmental agent capable of disrupting normal embryo-fetal development following exposure during pregnancy.
What is a teratogen?
A teratogen is a substance that may lead to birth defects in an embryo or fetus. During pregnancy, exposure to certain chemicals, infections, and drugs may increase the risk that a person will miscarry or that the embryo or fetus could have a developmental abnormality.
How do teratogens affect human development?
Effects of teratogens during this period of developmental often times results in an “all or none effect.” That is, the effect of the teratogen, if it is to have any effect, will be so profound as to cause a spontaneous abortion. Some examples of teratogens known to cause human malformations are listed in the table below (Table 23-2).
When is the embryo most susceptible to Teratogenic agents?
The embryo is most susceptible to teratogenic agents during periods of rapid differentiation. The stage of development of the embryo determines suscep-tibility to teratogens. The most critical period in the development of an embryo or in the growth of a particular organ is during the time of most rapid cell division.
What are teratogenic effects of chemical exposure?
Teratogenic effects are dependent on the nature of the teratogen, including chemical properties of the chemical, route of exposure, maternal/fetal bioactivation, placental transport, etc. Teratogens produce a consistent deviation from normal development.