Fetal Pole

The fetal pole is the earliest visual evidence of a developing fetus during very early pregnancy. A transvaginal ultrasound can detect a fetal pole at around 6 weeks gestational age as a 1-2 mm oval structure.

In a viable pregnancy, the fetal pole will continue to develop into a fetus and eventually to a fully formed infant. The absence or malformation of a fetal pole may indicate a complication with the pregnancy.

A fetal pole may also be called an embryonic pole or is often referred to synonymously as an embryo. An alternative spelling is foetal pole.