TY - JOUR
T1 - Fetal yawning activity in normal and high-risk fetuses
T2 - A preliminary observation
AU - Petrikovsky, B.
AU - Kaplan, G.
AU - Holsten, N.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Objective. To study yawning activity in healthy fetuses and in fetuses at high risk. Methods. Yawning activity was studied in 16 healthy and 22 high-risk fetuses. Studies were performed in the post-prandial state at 09.00 and 12.00 in a quiet room with the woman in the lateral recumbent position. All ultrasound examination were performed using a 3.5-MHz Acuson 128 PX curvilinear probe. Fetal lips, mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx, trachea and esophagus were surveyed in serial coronal and sagittal planes. All fetal mouthing movements were analysed by a review of the videotape in slow motion. Results. In both normal and high-risk fetuses, yawning was represented by isolated mouthing movements and consisted of slow opening of the mouth with simultaneous downward movements of the tongue. This phase occupied 50-75% of the yawning cycle. After reaching it maximum opening, the mouth remained wide open for 2-8 s and returned to its resting postion within seconds. Growth-restricted fetuses demonstrated yawning pattterns consisting of isolated yawns similar to those seen in healthy fetuses. Unusual burst of fetal yawning activity were recorded in anemic fetuses. Conclusion. Yawning activity in anemic fetuses may represent a compensatory process to increase venous return to the heart.
AB - Objective. To study yawning activity in healthy fetuses and in fetuses at high risk. Methods. Yawning activity was studied in 16 healthy and 22 high-risk fetuses. Studies were performed in the post-prandial state at 09.00 and 12.00 in a quiet room with the woman in the lateral recumbent position. All ultrasound examination were performed using a 3.5-MHz Acuson 128 PX curvilinear probe. Fetal lips, mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx, trachea and esophagus were surveyed in serial coronal and sagittal planes. All fetal mouthing movements were analysed by a review of the videotape in slow motion. Results. In both normal and high-risk fetuses, yawning was represented by isolated mouthing movements and consisted of slow opening of the mouth with simultaneous downward movements of the tongue. This phase occupied 50-75% of the yawning cycle. After reaching it maximum opening, the mouth remained wide open for 2-8 s and returned to its resting postion within seconds. Growth-restricted fetuses demonstrated yawning pattterns consisting of isolated yawns similar to those seen in healthy fetuses. Unusual burst of fetal yawning activity were recorded in anemic fetuses. Conclusion. Yawning activity in anemic fetuses may represent a compensatory process to increase venous return to the heart.
KW - Fetal behavior
KW - Fetal yawning
KW - Hypoxia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033041648&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1999.13020127.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1999.13020127.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 10079492
AN - SCOPUS:0033041648
SN - 0960-7692
VL - 13
SP - 127
EP - 130
JO - Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
IS - 2
ER -