Final answer:
A fertilized egg goes through three stages of development before birth: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
In prenatal development, a fertilized egg goes through three stages before birth: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage.
- The germinal stage lasts for the first two weeks after fertilization and involves processes such as fertilization, cleavage, blastulation, and implantation.
- The embryonic stage starts at implantation and lasts until the eighth week after fertilization. During this stage, significant growth and changes occur, including gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis.
- The fetal stage begins after the embryonic stage and lasts until birth. In this stage, the developing embryo is referred to as a fetus and undergoes rapid growth and maturation of organs and body systems.