Meconium

Image:Meconium.jpg

Meconium (sometimes erroneously spelled merconium) is the first stoolof an infant, composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus: intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water. Meconium is sterile, unlike later feces, and has no odor.

Meconium is normally stored in the infant's intestines until after birth, but sometimes it is expelled into the amniotic fluid prior to birth or during labor and delivery. Sometimes the meconium becomes thickened and congested in the ileum, a condition known as meconium ileus. Meconium ileus is often the first symptom of cystic fibrosis.

Meconium aspiration syndrome(MAS) occurs when infants take meconium into their lungs during delivery.

Meconium can be tested for drugs the baby was exposed to in utero.

External link

• eMedicine's article about meconium aspiration syndrome

nl:Meconium lt:Mekonijus

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meconium Wikipedia article Meconium.