In human development, a
fetus (; plural "fetuses"), also spelled
foetus, is a
prenatal human between its
embryonic state and its
birth. The fetal stage of development tends to be taken as beginning at the
gestational age of eleven weeks, i.e. nine weeks after
fertilization. In biological terms, however, prenatal development is a continuum, with no clear defining feature distinguishing an embryo from a fetus. The use of the term "fetus" generally implies that an embryo has developed to the point of being recognizable as a human; this is the point usually taken to be the ninth week after fertilization. A fetus is also characterized by the presence of all the major body organs, though they will not yet be fully developed and functional and some not yet situated in their final
anatomical location.