1
NSPN 7100
NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions (NEW 2026/2027) With
Complete Solutions
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - ANS -reducing the number
of preterm births
-decreasing the number of unintended pregnancies
-lowering the risk of genetic disorders or environmental exposures
-reducing maternal and neonatal mortality
-improving maternal and child health outcomes
What day does the maternal-placental-embryonic circulation become in place to allow
the heart to beat? - ANS Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - ANS Within the first week of implantation
NSPN 7100
, 2
NSPN 7100
The villi erode the walls or ________ _____ _______ as they penetrate the ________,
opening them up so that a lake of maternal blood forms, in which the villi float. - ANS -
maternal blood vessels
-decidua
The maternal blood circulates slowly, allowing fetal capillaries within the villi to absorb
nutrients and oxygen and to excrete waste. The _________ _____ are capable of
carrying out this fetal/maternal exchange by the third week after conception. - ANS -
chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - ANS
Approximately 18-20 weeks after conception, when the majority of villi are established.
Fetal/maternal exchange (of gases, nutrients, and wastes) occurs across or through the
cell membranes that line the outside of the chorionic villi. There is no mixing of maternal
and fetal blood unless there is a break in these membranes. Can the baby have a
completely different blood type than the mother? - ANS Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - ANS -Sieve
NSPN 7100
, 3
NSPN 7100
-blood cannot pass through the cell membranes but other substances can such as,
drugs, infectious agents and maternal antibodies.
The placenta secretes 4 pregnancy hormones. What are they and how do they function?
- ANS Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (protein)
•preserves the function of the corpus luteum, ensuring a continued supply of estrogen
and progesterone needed to maintain pregnancy
Human placental lactogen (hPL) (Protein)
•stimulates the maternal metabolism to supply nutrients for fetal growth
•increases maternal resistance to insulin, and facilitates glucose transport across the
placental membrane
•stimulates breast development in preparation for lactation
Progesterone (steroid)
•maintains endometrium
•decreases contractility of the uterus
•stimulates development of breast alveoli
•stimulates maternal metabolism
NSPN 7100
, 4
NSPN 7100
Estrogen (steroid)
•stimulates uterine growth and uteroplacental blood flow
•causes proliferation of breast glandular tissue
What are the 4 metabolic functions of the placenta? - ANS -respiration
-nutrition
-excretion
-storage
Marnie stopped using birth control 3 months ago. This month instead of receiving her
normal period she experienced just a small amount of spotting. What might the cause of
this spotting be? - ANS Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - ANS Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - ANS one vein and two
arteries
NSPN 7100
NSPN 7100
NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions (NEW 2026/2027) With
Complete Solutions
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - ANS -reducing the number
of preterm births
-decreasing the number of unintended pregnancies
-lowering the risk of genetic disorders or environmental exposures
-reducing maternal and neonatal mortality
-improving maternal and child health outcomes
What day does the maternal-placental-embryonic circulation become in place to allow
the heart to beat? - ANS Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - ANS Within the first week of implantation
NSPN 7100
, 2
NSPN 7100
The villi erode the walls or ________ _____ _______ as they penetrate the ________,
opening them up so that a lake of maternal blood forms, in which the villi float. - ANS -
maternal blood vessels
-decidua
The maternal blood circulates slowly, allowing fetal capillaries within the villi to absorb
nutrients and oxygen and to excrete waste. The _________ _____ are capable of
carrying out this fetal/maternal exchange by the third week after conception. - ANS -
chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - ANS
Approximately 18-20 weeks after conception, when the majority of villi are established.
Fetal/maternal exchange (of gases, nutrients, and wastes) occurs across or through the
cell membranes that line the outside of the chorionic villi. There is no mixing of maternal
and fetal blood unless there is a break in these membranes. Can the baby have a
completely different blood type than the mother? - ANS Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - ANS -Sieve
NSPN 7100
, 3
NSPN 7100
-blood cannot pass through the cell membranes but other substances can such as,
drugs, infectious agents and maternal antibodies.
The placenta secretes 4 pregnancy hormones. What are they and how do they function?
- ANS Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (protein)
•preserves the function of the corpus luteum, ensuring a continued supply of estrogen
and progesterone needed to maintain pregnancy
Human placental lactogen (hPL) (Protein)
•stimulates the maternal metabolism to supply nutrients for fetal growth
•increases maternal resistance to insulin, and facilitates glucose transport across the
placental membrane
•stimulates breast development in preparation for lactation
Progesterone (steroid)
•maintains endometrium
•decreases contractility of the uterus
•stimulates development of breast alveoli
•stimulates maternal metabolism
NSPN 7100
, 4
NSPN 7100
Estrogen (steroid)
•stimulates uterine growth and uteroplacental blood flow
•causes proliferation of breast glandular tissue
What are the 4 metabolic functions of the placenta? - ANS -respiration
-nutrition
-excretion
-storage
Marnie stopped using birth control 3 months ago. This month instead of receiving her
normal period she experienced just a small amount of spotting. What might the cause of
this spotting be? - ANS Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - ANS Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - ANS one vein and two
arteries
NSPN 7100
