Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

1.5K
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
1.5K
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

2.9K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.9K
Development of Blood Vessels01:07

Development of Blood Vessels

865
The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
865
Abdominal Regions and Quadrants01:19

Abdominal Regions and Quadrants

13.0K
To promote clear communication, for instance, about the location of a patient's abdominal pain or a suspicious mass, anatomists and clinicians typically use imaginary lines to categorize the abdominopelvic cavity into either four quadrants or nine regions to identify organs in the cavity.
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four...
13.0K
Appendicitis-I: Introduction01:22

Appendicitis-I: Introduction

748
The appendix, a small, narrow, blind tube extending from the inferior part of the cecum, is widely regarded as a vestigial organ, having lost much of its original function through evolution. Despite its diminished role, the appendix can become inflamed, a condition known as appendicitis.
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
748

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

Catholic Bioethics Perspectives on In Vitro Gametogenesis Technology.

The Linacre quarterly·2026
Same journal

Transgenderism and Human Sexuality.

The Linacre quarterly·2026
Same journal

Suicide, Consequences, and First Principles.

The Linacre quarterly·2026
Same journal

Conscientious Objection to Gender-Affirming Surgery in Residency Training.

The Linacre quarterly·2026
Same journal

A Retrospective Cohort Study Evaluating the Effectiveness and Safety of Exogenous Progesterone for the Continuation of Pregnancy After Exposure to Mifepristone.

The Linacre quarterly·2026
Same journal

Chastity and Commutative Justice: A Case Analysis of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

The Linacre quarterly·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs
05:40

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs

Published on: December 22, 2023

391

Fetal Pain in the First Trimester.

Bridget Thill1

  • 1University of Mary, Bismarck, ND, USA.

The Linacre Quarterly
|March 24, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Fetal pain perception is possible in the first trimester, supported by developing neural pathways and subcortical structures. Evidence suggests fetal analgesia can mitigate pain responses, impacting medical ethics.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Fetal Development
  • Pain Perception

Background:

  • Fetal pain perception has significant implications for medical procedures like fetal surgery and abortion.
  • Debates surrounding fetal pain have shifted from its existence to its significance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review neuroscientific evidence for fetal pain perception during the first trimester.
  • To discuss the ethical considerations of fetal pain in medical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neuroscientific findings on fetal neural pathway development.
  • Analysis of the role of subcortical structures in consciousness.
  • Examination of the effects of fetal analgesia.

Main Results:

Keywords:
fetal analgesiafetal anesthesiafetal awarenessfetal nociceptionfetal pain

More Related Videos

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
01:37

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies

Published on: February 9, 2024

510
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
08:04

Murine Fetal Echocardiography

Published on: February 15, 2013

17.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs
05:40

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs

Published on: December 22, 2023

391
A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
01:37

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies

Published on: February 9, 2024

510
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
08:04

Murine Fetal Echocardiography

Published on: February 15, 2013

17.5K
  • Neural pathways for pain perception (thalamus, cortical subplate) are present by 12 weeks gestation.
  • Subcortical structures essential for consciousness develop in the first trimester.
  • Fetal analgesia effectively suppresses pain responses, preventing adverse sequelae.

Conclusions:

  • Neuroscientific evidence supports the possibility of fetal pain perception in the first trimester.
  • The acknowledgment of fetal pain introduces ethical challenges related to beneficence and nonmaleficence in medicine.