Chapter 4. Teratogens

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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Welcome

Teratogens

This activity examines both the effects of various teratogens and the preventive measures that mitigate their risk to a developing fetus.

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4.1 Teratogens

Teratogens: Effects of Exposure and Prevention of Damage*

Some of the teratogens you see in the table below cause physical impairment. Others, known as behavioral teratogens, harm the brain and therefore impair cognitive abilities and affect personality. Whether or not a teratogen harms an embryo or fetus depends on timing, dose, and genes. Public and personal health practices can protect against prenatal complications, with some specifics debatable. Always, however, family members affect the pregnant woman’s health.

Click on each teratogenic category name to view the characteristics of each individual teratogen

4.2 Teratogens

Your Health Habits

A man smokes a cigarette.
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Question 4.1 Analyzing your own health habits

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Answers will vary, but hopefully your health habits would not need to change very significantly if you became pregnant. Everyone needs exercise, adequate rest, healthy food, and, ideally, a drug-free lifestyle, but general health matters even more during pregnancy. Doctors recommend maintaining good nutrition, avoiding drugs and teratogenic chemicals, and receiving regular prenatal care throughout pregnancy.

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