260 days
more recent and more thorough post relating to gestation, time and becoming.
2 x 130
4 x 65
5 x 52
10 x 26
13 x 20
Human gestation, as measured from conception to birth, takes an estimated 260 days. The measure of stages of embryonic develop begins in hours, then days, followed by weeks.
Measuring the development, first of the blastocyst, then the embryo, and finally the fetus, the course of development of particular tissues, organs and systems precede a particular course of development, through to adulthood.
Using periods of 13 days, (hereafter fortnights), a different perspective on human gestation results. This list represents a very simplified impression of the process for the sake of comparing similarities.
| day 0 | fertilisation |
| fortnight 1 | The doubling cells form into a blastocyst which anchors into the uterine wall. The placenta forms & placental – embryonic circulation begins. |
| fortnight 2 | The primitive streak develops into endoderm-, meso- & ectoderm – Peristalsis in S-tube begins. |
| fortnight 3 | The brain differentiates into fore-, mid- & hindbrains |
| fortnight 4 | A 4-chamber heart develops, the eyes develop pigment, first brainwaves occur. Legs & arms have shifted to their proper location, intestines migrate into the body cavity from the umbilical cord. The brain has finished developing. The fetus can make sounds.final stages of embryonic develoment. |
| fortnight 5 – 20 | fetal growth continues with no new structures |
During the first days of fortnight 1, the fertiliised cell doubles every 20 hours or so.
During the fortnight 2, the primitive streak forms, and differentiates into the membranes. These, in turn, develop into specific systems, as follows:
| endoderm | mesoderm | ectoderm |
|---|---|---|
| epithelial lining of almost the entire alimentary canal | all connective & sclerous tissue | epidermis & lining cells of glands which open on to it & appendages of skin, hair & nails |
| lining cells of glands opening into the alimentary canal – including liver & pancreas (excluding salivary glands) | teeth (except enamel) | almost all the nervous system, including cranial & spinal ganglia, sympathetic ganglia, posterior lobe of hypophysis cerebri (pituitary gland) |
| epithelial lining of auditory tube & tympanic cavity | whole musculature; striated & unstriated (except the musculature of the iris) | chromaffin organs (incl. medullae & suprarenal glands, para-aortic bodies, paraganglia proper, certain cells of carotid bodies) |
| epithelium of thyroid & parathyroid glands & thymus | blood, blood vasculature & lymphatic systems | anterior lobe of hypophysis cerebri (pituitary gland) |
| epithelium of larynx, trachea & smaller air passages, including alveoli & air saccules | cortex of the suprarenal glands & mesothelial linings of pericardial, pleural & peritoneal cavities | epithelium of cornea; conjuctiva & lachrimal glands |
| epithelium of most of urnigary bladder & much of the urethra | urogenital system (except most of urinary bladder, prostate & urethra) | the lens |
| epithelium of the prostate | remaining organs and tissues not specified elsewhere | the plain muscle of the iris |
| neuro-epithelium of sense organs | ||
| epithelium lining nose & paranasal sinuses, roof of mouth, gums & cheeks | ||
| salivary glands & tooth enamel | ||
| epithelium lining lower part of anal canal & terminus urethra |
Ayurvedic medicine uses the tissues, organs and systems developed from these embryonic membranes as a basis for diet and health. Each of us, with our own unique body, combines these three qualities in differing amounts, and our dietary requirements differ accordingly.
Further development along this line pends more research.
As the 260 days progress, the Sun’s light grows and shrinks, on a daily basis if not through the seasons, whether directly, or reflected off of the Sun, Moon, and five planets Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, so does their influence upon our mothers, and our infants, in utero.
The relationship between these two phenomena sits at the heart of our very personal relationship between our the natures of time, body and health.
How does one develop from a zygote to an adult human being?
How can these stages of development find reflection in the development of events throughout our lives?
To which rhythms do we find ourselves currently tied?
Does the tool of the calendar serve us like all good tools, or do we feel that we are “doing time,” or “serving time?”
7 April 2008 at 1:45 am |
For days I have been looking for this information and finally found part of what I need here, now, could you help me out directing me to how the child continues its development after birth using the same time measure -lunar- to explain how it develops during its life span. Any information will be appreciated.
7 April 2008 at 4:21 am |
theAbysmal hasn’t delved into early childhood development yet, but it may appear on these pages before too long.
By 6 months, the child seems to be “present” in their body, and able to control their limbs without surprising themselves
Other stages include final development of the forebrain, secondary teeth, adolescence and finally adulthood.
Check early childhood development resources.
7 April 2008 at 7:58 am |
The difference with ancient Wisdom systems and “scientifc” knowledge is the scope of mental “landscape”, ancients saw everything as a panoramic view and the modern as extremely near-sighted landscape. Child development is one of these areas in which not being able to explain why the unborn measures its development in lunar time before leaving the womb, after that it becomes scientific, that is everything is measured, weighted, dissected; science knows what happens but not why. I was looking for a why , thanks anyway
7 April 2008 at 12:11 pm |
I got a speculation, if that’s of any interest.
Our fertility cycles are innately tied to the cycles of the moon, as with human menstrual cycles, and animal estrus cycles.
Ideally, humans are most fertile at the new moon closest to the vernal equinox (which coincided this year on March 21st). If a child is conceived on the vernal equinox, then it will be born, as are most children, near the full moon close to the winter solstice.
This timing is important, because the parents aren’t tied down to working the harvest, and the child emerges during the longest night, which gives it time to adjust to the lengthening days, and greater exposure to solar radiation, over the intervening months. The rate of change in the amount of daylight increases until its peak at the vernal equinox, after which it slows until the summer solstice.
If solar light & heat are thought of as energy, including that which is reflected by the moon & planets, then think of the increase in the amount of daylight, or moonlight, as an increase in energy used in growth and development in utero and after birth.
If a child is born on the full moon, then the next fortnight sees a decrease in the amount of lunar light & energy, giving the newborn time to adjust to the atmosphere ex utero before the new moon passes and the amount of light/energy increases growth and development.
Likewise, the first 182 days (about 1/2 year) for a child born at the winter solstice, sees an increase in the amount of daylight, which aids in the initial stages of growth.
that is why astrology has some importance, although I think its more esoteric interpretations have overshadowed the chrono-biological.
I hope that’s of some help Mercedes.
7 April 2008 at 12:22 pm |
I thank you for your effort but what I am after is information on this
Human development specialists state that the human changes as it matures, -more or less every two years a real drastic change occures- but all the information is scattered like for exewmple the baby´s stomach does not mature inside the womb but outside of it, clearly the cycle started before birth and ended after which means that the lunar cycles that statted inside the womb continue during the rest of the individual´s life, now, who has done the whole series of cycles using the lunar parameter, from conception till death , that is the basic question. The problem is that one parameter is used in one stage of life, another in another stage and this only gives a blurry and doubtful result because nothing matches nothing completely.
8 April 2008 at 5:04 am |
thanks for the clarification.
the lunar cycle is far more universal than the relative amount of daylight, at least insofar as the creatures on earth go.
I hadn’t heard of a 2 year development cycle, although I’ve heard people refer to 7 year cycles and 10 year cycles ~ the human skeleton replaces itself every 10 years or so, and other tissues every 7. If you have any sources, book titles or names, that would be helpful. I expect to visit the local medical school library and see what may present itself.
feel free to contact me at theabysmalATgmailDOTcom
I have been considering a holistic time & health model, but have been distracted by other issues of late.
24 June 2008 at 5:28 am |
The Maya Tzilkin Calendar is a 260 day calendar, similar the the Human gestation!
19 October 2008 at 12:36 pm |
I have a project that is giving me problems. I need to find out the origin of the 11 body systems that start in the stem cell I need the names of each one . Can anyone help me?
19 October 2008 at 6:37 pm |
the stem cells differentiate into the 3 embryonic membranes during a process called gastrulation. The membranes are called the ectoderm, the mesoderm and the endoderm. These further differentiate into all 220 types of cells the human body has. What 11 body systems are you looking for?
try this: http://www.visembryo.com/baby/index.html