ABSTRACT
Volume of amniotic fluid (AF) represents a balance between
Mechanisms producing AF—fetal urine flow, oronasal, and lung secretions
Mechanism allowing passage of fluid into the amniotic cavity—fluid movement through the chorion frondosum and membranes, highly permeable fetal skin
Mechanism involved in uptake of AF—fetal swallowing
Fetal urination is the major source of AF in the second half of pregnancy
Increase in intramembranous absorption of AF leads to decrease in AFV in cases with chronic severe placental insufficiency
Echogenic AF is the presence of particles in amniotic fluid (represent either meconium or vernix)
Usually not associated with any adverse pregnancy outcome