Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Amniotic Fluid

Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid that surrounds the fetus within the amniotic sac during pregnancy, providing mechanical cushioning, maintaining a stable thermal and aqueous environment, permitting fetal movement essential for musculoskeletal development, and supporting the maturation of the fetal lungs and g…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 6 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 8× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2381-862X 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid that surrounds the fetus within the amniotic sac during pregnancy, providing mechanical cushioning, maintaining a stable thermal and aqueous environment, permitting fetal movement essential for musculoskeletal development, and supporting the maturation of the fetal lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Early in gestation it derives largely from transudation across fetal membranes and skin, while in later pregnancy its volume is governed principally by the balance between fetal urine production and fetal swallowing, with additional contributions from lung secretions and absorption across the membranes. The fluid contains water, electrolytes, proteins, hormones, enzymes, and cells of fetal origin, making it a valuable diagnostic medium; amniocentesis samples these constituents for karyotyping, genetic and biochemical analysis, assessment of fetal lung maturity, and detection of infection. Disturbances of volume are clinically important, with polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios reflecting underlying fetal, placental, or maternal conditions and serving as markers of fetal well-being. Abnormal fluid dynamics also accompany structural anomalies and hydrops. The study of amniotic fluid spans fetal physiology, prenatal diagnosis, and maternal-fetal medicine, linking the regulation of its volume and composition to fetal development, surveillance, and the diagnosis of congenital and perinatal disorders.

Research published in this journal

6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2017

The Evolution of Fetal Surgery

Knezevich MichelleCorresponding author
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
Exact topic Fetal Surgery doi:10.14302/issn.2997-2086.jfs-17-1663
2019

Neuroscience Theories, Hypothesis and Approaches to ASD Physiopathology. A Review

OJ CastejónCorresponding author
Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas “Drs. Orlando Castejón and Haydee Viloria de Castejón” e Instituto de Neurociencias Clínicas, Fundación Castejón, San Rafael Clinical Home. Maracaibo. Venezuela.
Exact topic Neurological Research and Therapy Cited by 2 doi:10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-19-2974

How this research is being cited

The 6 articles above have been cited 8 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Amniotic Fluid, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Women's Reproductive Health (ISSN 2381-862X).

Journal editorial board
Paolo Ivo Cavoretto · Italy Loc Nguyen · Hong Kong Matteo Schimberni · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.