Radiation-induced abnormalities to the fetus during which weeks of pregnancy are likely to cause neurological anomalies?

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The correct answer highlights that radiation-induced abnormalities affecting the fetus are most likely to cause neurological anomalies during the seventh or eighth week of pregnancy. This time frame is particularly crucial because, during these weeks, the development of the central nervous system is ongoing and sensitive to harmful agents, including radiation.

By this stage, the neural tube has closed, and the brain and spinal cord are developing rapidly. Exposure to radiation can disrupt this process, leading to a range of potential neurological defects. Conditions such as microcephaly, intellectual disabilities, or structural abnormalities in the brain can arise due to such exposure during this critical period.

In contrast, earlier weeks, such as the first or second week, may not result in significant neurological anomalies as major organ systems have not yet begun their development. Similarly, by the ninth or tenth week, while the fetus is still vulnerable, most key structures of the central nervous system are already formed, making later effects of radiation exposure manifest in different ways, primarily impacting growth and other aspects rather than specific neurological anomalies.

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