Free floating particles in amniotic fluid- an ultrasound video

This ultrasound video clip shows multiple particles/ particulate debris floating within the amniotic fluid in a kind of Brownian motion. This was a 3rd trimester pregnancy and free floating particles are a common finding in this phase of gestation. They are said to be result of shedding of vernix caseosa from the surface of the fetal skin. Recent research suggests that presence of free particles in the liqor amnii is a good sign of fetal lung maturity.
More ominous causes of particulate matter in the amniotic fluid include hemorrhage into the liqor.
Reference: 1) http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/176/3/607.pdf (free article)
2) http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/cgi/content/abstract/2/3/107
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7506913

For more articles and ultrasound images of liqor / amniotic fluid pathology visit:
http://www.ultrasound-images.com/amniotic-fluid.htm

Have a look at another sonographic video showing these particles dancing in the amniotic fluid: