Question of the Day

Prenatal Heart Development

How long after fertilization does the human heart begin beating?

Correct Answer

Tell Me More

The medical textbook "Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Medicine and Surgery" documents that human "heart tubes fuse into a common loop" and "contractile activity commences" at 21 to 27 days after fertilization. Likewise, the textbook "Biology: Investigating Life on Earth" states that the human "embryo has its own circulatory system, complete with a heart that started beating only 24 days after conception...." Also, the Merck Manual explains, "The heart begins to pump fluid through blood vessels by day 20, and the first red blood cells appear the next day." Some media outlets have tried to deny this reality by using narrow definitions of the word "heart" and cherry-picking claims from a few "experts" who are abortion activists. However, facts from genuine science publications like the ones above prove just the opposite.




Reload Question
Reload Question
Share via Facebook
Share via Twitter
Share via Email
Embed into your website
About the Fact App
Articles by Topic