Conceptus

/kənˈsɛptəs/ noun

Definition

In biology, the developing offspring from conception to birth; an embryo or fetus together with its surrounding membranes.

Etymology

Latin term meaning 'thing conceived,' from concipere 'to conceive.' Taken directly from Latin into medical and biological terminology to describe the entire pregnant structure.

Kelly Says

Biologists use 'conceptus' to mean the whole package—embryo, placenta, amniotic sac—because it's all one system working together to develop a human!

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