What term is used for a developing zygote through the 10th week?

• A. Embryo
• B. Gestational Age
• C. Gestational Sac
• D. Gravidity

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how we name the early stage of human development after fertilization. The developing zygote through the early weeks is called an embryo. This label reflects the period when rapid cell division and the basic groundwork for organs occur. In many references, the embryonic stage is described as ending around the end of the eighth week, though some sources extend the term to about the tenth week. That’s why the term fits the timeframe described in the question.

Gestational age refers to how many weeks have passed since the last menstrual period and is a dating measure, not a developmental stage. The gestational sac is the fluid-filled structure that surrounds the embryo in early pregnancy and is a visible landmark on ultrasound. Gravidity means the number of pregnancies a woman has had, not a developmental stage.