Oorsig/Review
Micronutrient imbalances on the other hand, are
associated with lax tendons, but in the absence
of any other conformational or anatomical
abnormalities (figure 7 and figure 8).
Figure 5: Arthrogryposis - contracted tendons
Figure 6: Arthrogryposis + Block vertebrae
Age-appropriate
features
are
external
characteristics that are matched to fetal age and
can be used to determine if they are appropriate
for the actual age of the fetus being examined. If
features observed are inappropriate for the actual
age of the fetus, this would indicate that some
in-utero incident, whether that be infectious or
non-infectious, has occurred and this needs to
be more thoroughly investigated during your
examination to ensure the relevant set of samples
are collected.
Fetuses less than 6 months gestational age are
usually hairless. Between 5 and 7 months color
markings appear, and hair growth begins with
initial hair growth points being the muzzle,
distal limbs and tail. Eyelids separate at around
7 months gestation and at this stage the fetus
should be well covered with body hair (figure 9).
A fetus where the eyelids have separated yet is
largely hairless (figure 10) would indicate an in-
utero incident (infectious, nutritional, toxic).
Figure 9: Eyelids separated fully haired.
Figure 7: Lax tendons fore + hind.
Figure 8: Lax tendons hind
6
Figure 10: Eyelids separated fetal alopecia.