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Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, second unified edition, English volume

Conception

Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, second unified edition, English vol.
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Conception  (CONCEPTION n.)


Conception 1 results from the fertilization 2 of an ovum 3 by a spermatozoon 4 or sperm cell 4 and marks the beginning of pregnancy 5 or gestation 5 for the impregnated woman. In the course of its development the product of conception 6 is successively called an embryo 7 and then a foetus 7 — sometimes written as fetus 7. The moment at which the embryo becomes a foetus is not precisely determined: certain scientists set it at the end of 12 weeks or three months of intra—uterine life, although successive developmental stages after the eighth week are often termed foetal. Nidation 8 refers to the implantation of the egg in the wall of the uterus 9 or womb 9, a process which occurs a few days after fertilization.

  • 1. Conception, n.- conceive, v.
  • 2. Fertilization, n. - fertilize, v.
    Artificial fertilization: fertilization obtained by artificial insemination, i.e. by a process other than coitus (627-2).
  • 3. A fertilized ovum is called an egg or zygote.
  • 5. Pregnancy, n. - pregnant, adj.: gravid, expectant. Certain scientists consider that a pregnancy begins only at the time of nidation (602-8) of the egg.
  • 7. Embryo, n. - embryonic, adj. - embryology, n.: the science dealing with the development of the embryo.
    Foetus or fetus, n. - foetal or fetal, adj. (cf. 411).
  • 9. Uterus, n. - uterine, adj.

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