MIDWIFERY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY YEAR 1 LATEST
2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is the physiological importance of resting between contractions? - ✔✔Allows
perfusion of the placenta and fetal recovery.
✔✔Name and detail the 4 ways in which a newborn baby may lose heat. -
✔✔Evaporation - if left wet
Convection - from a cool/draughty environment
Conduction - if in contact with a cold surface/object
Radiation - if left uncovered near cold windows or walls
✔✔Name the 5 superficial muscles of the perineal floor. - ✔✔Membranous sphincter of
the urethra
Ischiocavernosus muscle
Bulbocavernosus muscle (bulbospongiosus)
Transverse perineal muscle
External anal sphincter
✔✔Name 3 functions of amniotic fluid. - ✔✔Allows fetal growth and movement
Allows symmetrical muscoskeletal development
Protects fetus from jarring/injury
Maintains a constant temperature
Protects the placenta and cord from pressure during contractions (labour)
Aids effacement and dilation, especially if the presenting part is poorly applied
✔✔Name 5 hormones that are produced by the placenta. - ✔✔Oestrogen
Progesterone
hCG
hPL
,hPGH (human placental growth hormone)
✔✔What is cervical effacement? - ✔✔The cervical canal is taken up into the lower
uterine segment due to the contraction and retraction of muscle fibres.
✔✔What changes occur in the urinary system of a pregnant woman? - ✔✔The kidneys
lengthen by up to 1.5cm
Kidney volume increases by up to 30%
The ureter increases in length
The bladder becomes an abdominal organ by the 3rd trimester
Increased urinary output
✔✔What is polarity? - ✔✔Neuromuscular harmony between the upper and lower uterine
segments.
The upper segment contracts strongly and downwards to expel the fetus and the lower
segment contracts lightly and dilates to open the cervix.
✔✔What dosage of pethidine should be given and how? - ✔✔25-100mg, 4 hourly and
IM.
Maximum dose of 400mg in 24 hours.
✔✔What changes occur in the maternal cardiovascular system during pregnancy? -
✔✔The heart increases in size
The heart is displaced upwards and to the left
Vasodilation
An increase in blood volume
Haemodilution
Cardiac output increases by 30-50%
Diastolic BP reduces by week 24, rising to pre-pregnancy values at term
✔✔Name the 4 portions of the uterine tube. - ✔✔The interstitial portion
, The isthmus
The ampulla
The infundibulum with fimbriae
✔✔What is placenta praevia? - ✔✔An abnormally situated placenta - wholly or partially
covering the os.
✔✔What are normal fetal blood gas readings? - ✔✔Above 7.25
7.21-7.24 is borderline
Below 7.2 is abnormal
✔✔What are the individual lobes of the placenta called? - ✔✔Cotyledons.
The maternal side of the placenta consists of 22 cotyledons, made up of thousands of
chorionic villi, separated by sulci.
✔✔How are the forewaters and hindwaters formed? - ✔✔As the lower uterine segment
stretches, the chorion detaches and becomes trapped by the presenting part as it fits
into the cervix.
✔✔What is retraction? - ✔✔When uterine muscle fibres retain the shortening of
contractions instead of completely relaxing.
✔✔What are the components of syntometrine? - ✔✔0.5mg of ergometrine
5 units of syntocinon in 1 ml
✔✔When are scans normally performed in pregnancy? - ✔✔Dating scan - between 8
and 14 weeks
Anomaly scan - between 18 and 20+6 weeks
✔✔Which is the largest diameter of the brim? - ✔✔Transverse (13cm)
Anterposterior is 11cm and oblique is 12cm.
✔✔How does cervical dilation occur? - ✔✔The external os enlarges from 0-10cm.
Uterine actions and counter pressure from the membranes and presenting part cause
the fundus to respond via contraction and retraction.
✔✔List the 8 mechanisms of labour. - ✔✔Descent (engagement)
2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is the physiological importance of resting between contractions? - ✔✔Allows
perfusion of the placenta and fetal recovery.
✔✔Name and detail the 4 ways in which a newborn baby may lose heat. -
✔✔Evaporation - if left wet
Convection - from a cool/draughty environment
Conduction - if in contact with a cold surface/object
Radiation - if left uncovered near cold windows or walls
✔✔Name the 5 superficial muscles of the perineal floor. - ✔✔Membranous sphincter of
the urethra
Ischiocavernosus muscle
Bulbocavernosus muscle (bulbospongiosus)
Transverse perineal muscle
External anal sphincter
✔✔Name 3 functions of amniotic fluid. - ✔✔Allows fetal growth and movement
Allows symmetrical muscoskeletal development
Protects fetus from jarring/injury
Maintains a constant temperature
Protects the placenta and cord from pressure during contractions (labour)
Aids effacement and dilation, especially if the presenting part is poorly applied
✔✔Name 5 hormones that are produced by the placenta. - ✔✔Oestrogen
Progesterone
hCG
hPL
,hPGH (human placental growth hormone)
✔✔What is cervical effacement? - ✔✔The cervical canal is taken up into the lower
uterine segment due to the contraction and retraction of muscle fibres.
✔✔What changes occur in the urinary system of a pregnant woman? - ✔✔The kidneys
lengthen by up to 1.5cm
Kidney volume increases by up to 30%
The ureter increases in length
The bladder becomes an abdominal organ by the 3rd trimester
Increased urinary output
✔✔What is polarity? - ✔✔Neuromuscular harmony between the upper and lower uterine
segments.
The upper segment contracts strongly and downwards to expel the fetus and the lower
segment contracts lightly and dilates to open the cervix.
✔✔What dosage of pethidine should be given and how? - ✔✔25-100mg, 4 hourly and
IM.
Maximum dose of 400mg in 24 hours.
✔✔What changes occur in the maternal cardiovascular system during pregnancy? -
✔✔The heart increases in size
The heart is displaced upwards and to the left
Vasodilation
An increase in blood volume
Haemodilution
Cardiac output increases by 30-50%
Diastolic BP reduces by week 24, rising to pre-pregnancy values at term
✔✔Name the 4 portions of the uterine tube. - ✔✔The interstitial portion
, The isthmus
The ampulla
The infundibulum with fimbriae
✔✔What is placenta praevia? - ✔✔An abnormally situated placenta - wholly or partially
covering the os.
✔✔What are normal fetal blood gas readings? - ✔✔Above 7.25
7.21-7.24 is borderline
Below 7.2 is abnormal
✔✔What are the individual lobes of the placenta called? - ✔✔Cotyledons.
The maternal side of the placenta consists of 22 cotyledons, made up of thousands of
chorionic villi, separated by sulci.
✔✔How are the forewaters and hindwaters formed? - ✔✔As the lower uterine segment
stretches, the chorion detaches and becomes trapped by the presenting part as it fits
into the cervix.
✔✔What is retraction? - ✔✔When uterine muscle fibres retain the shortening of
contractions instead of completely relaxing.
✔✔What are the components of syntometrine? - ✔✔0.5mg of ergometrine
5 units of syntocinon in 1 ml
✔✔When are scans normally performed in pregnancy? - ✔✔Dating scan - between 8
and 14 weeks
Anomaly scan - between 18 and 20+6 weeks
✔✔Which is the largest diameter of the brim? - ✔✔Transverse (13cm)
Anterposterior is 11cm and oblique is 12cm.
✔✔How does cervical dilation occur? - ✔✔The external os enlarges from 0-10cm.
Uterine actions and counter pressure from the membranes and presenting part cause
the fundus to respond via contraction and retraction.
✔✔List the 8 mechanisms of labour. - ✔✔Descent (engagement)
