At what gestational age can the fetal heartbeat typically be detected via ultrasound?

The detection of fetal heartbeat via ultrasound typically occurs around 6 weeks of gestation. At this point in development, the fetal heart begins to form and can usually be visualized as a flickering motion on an ultrasound. This timing aligns with the physiological development of the embryo, as the cardiac structure has matured enough to start producing detectable electrical activity and rhythmic contractions.

At about 4 weeks, the embryonic structures are still very early in development, and the heart is not yet formed to a point where it can be identified on an ultrasound. By 8 weeks, while the heartbeat can definitely be detected, the standard reference point for early detection is around the 6-week mark. At 10 weeks, the heartbeat is typically strong and well-established but is not the earliest timeframe in which it can be detected.