amniotic

amniotic /am·ni·ot·ic/ (am″ne-ot´ik) pertaining to or developing an amnion.

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amniotic.

See amnion .

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amniotic [am″ne-ot´ik]

pertaining to the amnion.

amniotic band syndrome a condition characterized by isolated or multiple constriction defects of the fingers, toes, limbs, and less frequently the skull, face, or viscera. It results from a tear of unknown etiology in the amnion, which allows amniotic fluid and fetal parts to escape from the amnion into the chorion. When the amnion and chorion are separated, strands from either the maternal amnion or the fetal chorion may entangle fetal parts. As the fetus grows the strands become more constrictive, causing defects.

amniotic fluid the albuminous fluid contained in the amniotic sac; called also liquor amnii and, informally, waters. The fetus floats in this fluid, which serves as a cushion against injury from sudden blows or movements and helps maintain a constant body temperature for the fetus. Normally the fluid is clear and slightly alkaline; discoloration or excessive cloudiness may indicate fetal distress or disease, as in erythroblastosis fetalis in which fluid is usually greenish yellow. The amount varies from 500 to 1500 ml.

An excessive amount of amniotic fluid (more than 2000 ml) is called hydramnios; the amount may be as much as several gallons. The cause of this condition is unknown but it frequently accompanies multiple pregnancy or some congenital defect of the fetus, especially hydrocephalus and meningocele.

An abnormally small amount of amniotic fluid is referred to as oligohydramnios; there may be less than 100 ml of fluid present. The cause is unknown. The condition may produce pressure deformities of the fetus, such as clubfoot or torticollis. Adhesions may result from direct contact of the fetus with the amnion.

Removal of a sample of amniotic fluid from the pregnant uterus is called amniocentesis.

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amniotic

pertaining to the amnion.

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amniotic fluid

the albuminous fluid contained in the amniotic sac.

amniotic plaque

small, 2 to 4 mm diameter, poxlike lesion on the inside of the amnion. Constant on the bovine amnion during the middle trimester and causes no problems nor has any known function.

amniotic sac

the amnion; the sac enclosing the fetus suspended in the amniotic fluid.

amniotic vesicle

see amniotic sac (above). Palpation of the vesicle per rectum in the cow is a common test for pregnancy between the 35th and 65th day of pregnancy.

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Patient discussion about amniotic.

Q. what does it mean when an ultrasound shows an empty amniotic sac and no baby?

A. This exact thing happened with my friend who is now 22 weeks with her first baby. She had 2 additional sacs - both empty - and the doctor said that the pregnancy had probably started out as triplets but that only one of the embryos had actually established and continued to grow.

Her doctor said it is very common for a woman to have more than one egg fertilize but that in most cases the pregnancy continues as a singleton only. She told my friend that the empty sacs would just disappear through time (which they did) and that they posed no danger to her baby.