SloveniaThe article discusses the development of the human heart during embryonic stages, clarifying common misconceptions about when the heart begins to beat. According to data from the Encyclopedia of Neonatal Development from 2008, the fetal heartbeat gradually increases to around 160 beats per minute early in pregnancy and decreases by 20–25 beats per minute by late pregnancy. The article references a May 17 event in Koper, where organizers claimed the fetal heart begins beating on the 22nd day after conception. However, experts at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) explain that the calculation of gestational age typically starts from the first day of the last menstrual period, which is approximately two weeks before fertilization. This means the actual age of the embryo is shorter than the gestational age. Embryologists note that the heart begins to develop around the fourth week after fertilization, corresponding to five to six weeks of gestational age. While the basic structure of the heart is formed by the eighth week after fertilization (around ten weeks of gestational age), functional maturity occurs later. Dr. Nataša Tul Mandić, a gynecologist and professor, explains
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced explanation of medical facts regarding fetal heart development, citing scientific sources and expert opinions without showing clear ideological bias. It does not take a stance on any political issue but focuses on clarifying a specific biological process.
