At 6 weeks

Anatomy on transabdominal ultrasound at 6 weeks

Although the detail of the embryo is not as clear if we scan through the abdomen, we can still make out quite a lot of the important features. Click on the thumbnails to see what features of the embryo are visible.

Fig 1 This is a magnified view of a transabdominal ultrasound image

Fig 2 A transabdominal scan will usually only show the gestational sac (highlighted). The embryo is barely visible except if transvaginal scan performed

Fig 3 The embryo is very small and at this stage it is difficult to be sure whether or not the heart is beating. If you can’t see it, wait for a week and scan again. The embryo will be bigger and the heart easier to see

Fig 4 The fetus is nourished by the yolk sac which looks like a small bubble within the gestation sac