Potter sequence
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Potter sequence
Reproductive system
Male and female reproductive system disorders
Precocious puberty
Delayed puberty
Klinefelter syndrome
Turner syndrome
Androgen insensitivity syndrome
5-alpha-reductase deficiency
Kallmann syndrome
Male reproductive system disorders
Hypospadias and epispadias
Bladder exstrophy
Priapism
Penile cancer
Prostatitis
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostate cancer
Cryptorchidism
Inguinal hernia
Varicocele
Epididymitis
Orchitis
Testicular torsion
Testicular cancer
Erectile dysfunction
Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder
Female reproductive system disorders
Amenorrhea
Ovarian cyst
Premature ovarian failure
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Ovarian torsion
Krukenberg tumor
Sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor
Surface epithelial-stromal tumor
Germ cell ovarian tumor
Uterine fibroid
Endometriosis
Endometritis
Endometrial hyperplasia
Endometrial cancer
Choriocarcinoma
Cervical cancer
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Urethritis
Female sexual interest and arousal disorder
Orgasmic dysfunction
Genito-pelvic pain and penetration disorder
Mastitis
Fibrocystic breast changes
Intraductal papilloma
Phyllodes tumor
Paget disease of the breast
Breast cancer
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Gestational hypertension
Preeclampsia & eclampsia
Gestational diabetes
Cervical incompetence
Placenta previa
Placenta accreta
Placental abruption
Oligohydramnios
Polyhydramnios
Potter sequence
Intrauterine growth restriction
Preterm labor
Postpartum hemorrhage
Chorioamnionitis
Congenital toxoplasmosis
Congenital cytomegalovirus (NORD)
Congenital syphilis
Neonatal conjunctivitis
Neonatal herpes simplex
Congenital rubella syndrome
Neonatal sepsis
Neonatal meningitis
Miscarriage
Gestational trophoblastic disease
Ectopic pregnancy
Fetal hydantoin syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Reproductive system pathology review
Disorders of sex chromosomes: Pathology review
Prostate disorders and cancer: Pathology review
Testicular tumors: Pathology review
Uterine disorders: Pathology review
Ovarian cysts and tumors: Pathology review
Cervical cancer: Pathology review
Vaginal and vulvar disorders: Pathology review
Benign breast conditions: Pathology review
Breast cancer: Pathology review
Complications during pregnancy: Pathology review
Congenital TORCH infections: Pathology review
Disorders of sexual development and sex hormones: Pathology review
Amenorrhea: Pathology Review
Testicular and scrotal conditions: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Warts and ulcers: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Vaginitis and cervicitis: Pathology review
HIV and AIDS: Pathology review
Penile conditions: Pathology review
Assessments
Potter sequence
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External References
First Aid
2017
Potter sequence p. 548
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Transcript
Content Reviewers
Rishi Desai, MD, MPHContributors
Tanner Marshall, MS
Potter sequence is a rare disorder that is sometimes called oligohydramnios sequence—a term that helps define it because oligo- means low and -hydramnios means amniotic fluid.
So in Potter sequence there’s basically very little amniotic fluid and this makes the uterus a pretty hostile place for the fetus to grow.
Typically, around the 20th week of gestation, the kidneys, ureters, and urethra develop and start producing and excreting urine, and this urine becomes the major source of amniotic fluid.
Various conditions like renal agenesis, which is when one or both kidneys are missing, or atresia of the ureter or urethra, which is where those parts of the urinary tract are obstructed, can lead to an inability to produce or excrete urine and therefore leads to oligohydramnios.
Other common causes can include amniotic rupture, which is the leakage of amniotic fluid, or uteroplacental insufficiency, which is where there’s low blood flow from the placenta meaning the fetal organs—which includes the fetal kidneys—see less blood flow, which in turn leads to decreased urine production.
When there’s very little amniotic fluid, a couple of things happen as a result. First, amniotic fluid is crucial for the development of the fetal lungs, by both helping the airways physically stretch out as well as contributing amino acids like proline, which helps with the formation of connective tissue and collagen in the lung.
With less amniotic fluid, though, there’s pulmonary hypoplasia. Hypo meaning under, and -plasia means formation, so the lungs basically remain underdeveloped.
Not only that though, with less amniotic fluid, there’s less space in the amniotic sac, and so the fetus is literally compressed into a smaller space, which causes developmental abnormalities like a flattened face, wrinkly skin, widely separated eyes with epicanthal folds, low-set ears, as well as limb abnormalities like clubbed feet.
Summary
Potter sequence is the atypical physical appearance of a fetus or neonate resulting from oligohydramnios experienced in the uterus. POTTER itself is a mnemonic, and it stands for Pulmonary hypoplasia, Oligohydramnios, Twisted skin for wrinkles, Twisted face, Extremity deformities, and Renal agenesis.
Sources
- "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
- "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
- "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2019)
- "Potter′s sequence" Journal of Clinical Neonatology (2012)
- "Special Imaging Casebook" Journal of Perinatology (2000)
- "The Potter Syndrome of Renal Agenesis" BMJ (1958)
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