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· 12 Jan 2022

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When does a fetus develop a brain

Pregnancy is an exciting time for both the expecting parents.  Although everyone can see the growing baby bump, the internal growth i.e. development of different body parts of the growing fetus is truly fascinating. The fetus will begin to develop the brain around week 5. Let us have a close look at the fetus development and specially the development of brain.

When does a fetus develop a brain?
Fetal brain growth most likely begins before the woman even realizes she is pregnant. The earliest neural cells start to divide and develop into neurons and glia, the 2 types of cells that make up the nervous system, while the mother is just 5 weeks pregnant. During week 5 of pregnancy, the neural plate folds onto itself to produce the neural tube, which shuts by week 6 to become the central nervous system. During week 10, the brain is a tiny, smooth structure that resembles the mother's brain, missing the creases that make up the distinct brain areas, which form later in the pregnancy.

When does a fetus's brain begin to function?
During week 7 of pregnancy, the first connections in the baby's spinal cord develop. By week 8, neuronal response in the brain occurs, permitting the baby to organize his initial movements, which can even be seen on an ultrasound. In the next weeks, the baby's brain will continue to grow, equipping him with a stunning range of spontaneous motions including stretching, yawning, and sucking by the end of the first trimester and more organized motions in the second trimester. The brainstem, which governs critical processes such as heart rate and respiration, is not fully developed until the end of the second trimester.
In addition, the cerebral cortex, which is crucial for voluntary movements, thinking, and emotion, does not begin to function until the last few weeks of pregnancy, with rudimentary electrical activity visible in areas involved with senses and motor abilities in preterm newborns.

Different areas of Brain
The brain develops into five distinct areas, each of which is required for a distinct set of functions:
•    Cerebrum: The brain's largest structure, essential for learning, memorizing, and emotion. The cerebral cortex and its many lobes, such as the frontal and temporal lobes, are located within cerebrum.
•    Cerebellum: The part of the brain that is responsible of motor coordination.
•    The brain stem: It is the engine that powers several of the baby's most critical activities, such as pulse rate, respiration, and hypertension.
•    Pituitary gland: This pea-sized gland secretes hormones into the body that regulate development, metabolism, and other functions.
•    The hypothalamus: It regulates body temperature, appetite, thirst, relaxation, and feelings.

When does the brain cease to develop?
The brain of baby will continue developing during childhood, with studies anticipating that development will cease around the age of 25. The brain grows fast throughout the first three to five years of a child's life. By the age of nine, all of the major connections within the brain have been established. That does not imply that brain growth is complete. Beginning in the adolescent years, the prefrontal lobe is the last part of the brain to grow.

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