NCC EFM REVIEW EXAMS CORRECT QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Foramen ovale - ✔✔An opening between the atria in the fetal heart that allows blood
to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the pulmonary circulation
✔✔Ductus arteriosus - ✔✔A connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta in
fetal circulation, allowing most blood to bypass the lungs
✔✔Autonomic Nervous System - ✔✔The part of the nervous system responsible for
involuntary bodily functions, divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
✔✔Baroreceptors/Chemoreceptors - ✔✔Sensory receptors that monitor blood pressure
(baroreceptors) and blood chemistry (chemoreceptors) to regulate physiological
responses
✔✔Cardiac Output - ✔✔The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute,
calculated as the heart rate multiplied by stroke volume
✔✔Physiologic Response to Hypoxia - ✔✔The body's reactions to low oxygen levels,
including increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and other compensatory mechanisms
✔✔Sympathetic Innervation - ✔✔Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares
the body for physical and mental activity, often referred to as the 'fight or flight' response
✔✔Parasympathetic - ✔✔The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for
conserving energy and promoting restful activities
✔✔HR - ✔✔Heart Rate
✔✔ACTION - ✔✔The physiological response or effect triggered by a specific stimulus or
signal
, ✔✔EFFECT - ✔✔The outcome or consequence of a specific action or stimulus
✔✔S-A Node - ✔✔Sinoatrial Node, the heart's natural pacemaker responsible for
initiating the heartbeat
✔✔Baseline FHR - ✔✔The average fetal heart rate during a 10-minute window,
excluding accelerations and decelerations
✔✔A-V Node - ✔✔Atrioventricular Node, a cluster of cells in the heart that coordinates
the top chambers (atria) and the bottom chambers (ventricles)
✔✔Transmits variability - ✔✔Passes on the fluctuations in heart rate to monitor the
adaptability and responsiveness of the fetal heart
✔✔BARORECEPTORS (Peripheral) - ✔✔Receptors located in the carotid sinus and
aortic arch walls that regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output
✔✔FETAL CHEMORECEPTORS - ✔✔Sensors that detect changes in blood gases
(PCO2, PO2, pH) and trigger responses like bradycardia and hypertension
✔✔Fetal Stroke Volume (SV) - ✔✔The volume of blood ejected by the fetal heart in one
contraction, which remains relatively stable compared to adults
✔✔Fetal Oxygenation - ✔✔The process by which the fetus receives and utilizes
oxygen, facilitated by adaptations in hemoglobin concentration and circulation
✔✔Hemoglobin concentration - ✔✔The amount of hemoglobin present in the blood,
with fetal blood having a higher concentration compared to maternal blood
✔✔Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve - ✔✔A graph showing the relationship between
oxygen and hemoglobin, indicating fetal hemoglobin's higher affinity for oxygen
✔✔Fetal Physiologic Adaptations - ✔✔Changes in fetal physiology to ensure oxygen
delivery and waste removal, including increased heart rate and cardiac output
✔✔FHR Acceleration - ✔✔Abrupt increase >10 bpm lasting >10 sec
✔✔<32 Weeks Gestation - ✔✔Criteria for FHR acceleration
✔✔FHR above baseline - ✔✔Peak ≥15 bpm above baseline lasting ≥15 sec
✔✔Rules Out Metabolic Acidemia - ✔✔Acceleration presence predicts absence of fetal
metabolic acidemia
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Foramen ovale - ✔✔An opening between the atria in the fetal heart that allows blood
to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the pulmonary circulation
✔✔Ductus arteriosus - ✔✔A connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta in
fetal circulation, allowing most blood to bypass the lungs
✔✔Autonomic Nervous System - ✔✔The part of the nervous system responsible for
involuntary bodily functions, divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
✔✔Baroreceptors/Chemoreceptors - ✔✔Sensory receptors that monitor blood pressure
(baroreceptors) and blood chemistry (chemoreceptors) to regulate physiological
responses
✔✔Cardiac Output - ✔✔The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute,
calculated as the heart rate multiplied by stroke volume
✔✔Physiologic Response to Hypoxia - ✔✔The body's reactions to low oxygen levels,
including increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and other compensatory mechanisms
✔✔Sympathetic Innervation - ✔✔Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares
the body for physical and mental activity, often referred to as the 'fight or flight' response
✔✔Parasympathetic - ✔✔The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for
conserving energy and promoting restful activities
✔✔HR - ✔✔Heart Rate
✔✔ACTION - ✔✔The physiological response or effect triggered by a specific stimulus or
signal
, ✔✔EFFECT - ✔✔The outcome or consequence of a specific action or stimulus
✔✔S-A Node - ✔✔Sinoatrial Node, the heart's natural pacemaker responsible for
initiating the heartbeat
✔✔Baseline FHR - ✔✔The average fetal heart rate during a 10-minute window,
excluding accelerations and decelerations
✔✔A-V Node - ✔✔Atrioventricular Node, a cluster of cells in the heart that coordinates
the top chambers (atria) and the bottom chambers (ventricles)
✔✔Transmits variability - ✔✔Passes on the fluctuations in heart rate to monitor the
adaptability and responsiveness of the fetal heart
✔✔BARORECEPTORS (Peripheral) - ✔✔Receptors located in the carotid sinus and
aortic arch walls that regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output
✔✔FETAL CHEMORECEPTORS - ✔✔Sensors that detect changes in blood gases
(PCO2, PO2, pH) and trigger responses like bradycardia and hypertension
✔✔Fetal Stroke Volume (SV) - ✔✔The volume of blood ejected by the fetal heart in one
contraction, which remains relatively stable compared to adults
✔✔Fetal Oxygenation - ✔✔The process by which the fetus receives and utilizes
oxygen, facilitated by adaptations in hemoglobin concentration and circulation
✔✔Hemoglobin concentration - ✔✔The amount of hemoglobin present in the blood,
with fetal blood having a higher concentration compared to maternal blood
✔✔Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve - ✔✔A graph showing the relationship between
oxygen and hemoglobin, indicating fetal hemoglobin's higher affinity for oxygen
✔✔Fetal Physiologic Adaptations - ✔✔Changes in fetal physiology to ensure oxygen
delivery and waste removal, including increased heart rate and cardiac output
✔✔FHR Acceleration - ✔✔Abrupt increase >10 bpm lasting >10 sec
✔✔<32 Weeks Gestation - ✔✔Criteria for FHR acceleration
✔✔FHR above baseline - ✔✔Peak ≥15 bpm above baseline lasting ≥15 sec
✔✔Rules Out Metabolic Acidemia - ✔✔Acceleration presence predicts absence of fetal
metabolic acidemia
