NSG 3500 Exam 1 – Maternal Health 2026/2027 |
Galen College of Nursing | Actual Questions &
Detailed Rationales
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section I — Reproductive Anatomy, Physiology & Hormones
Section II — Infertility, Conception & Early Development
Section III — Antepartum Assessment & Prenatal Care
Section IV — Physiologic Adaptations to Pregnancy
Section V — Nutrition, Health Promotion & Prenatal Teaching
Section VI — Fetal Development, Screening & Diagnostic Testing
Section VII — Antepartum Complications & Clinical Judgment
SECTION I — REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & HORMONES
1. Which structure is the primary site of ova maturation?
A. Uterus
B. Ovary
C. Cervix
D. Vagina
Correct Answer: B. Ovary
Rationale: The ovaries contain ovarian follicles where oocytes mature. They also
produce estrogen and progesterone. The uterus is the site of implantation and
fetal development, while the cervix and vagina form portions of the lower
reproductive tract.
,2. Which hormone stimulates ovarian follicle development during the menstrual
cycle?
A. Progesterone
B. Oxytocin
C. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
D. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Correct Answer: C. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Rationale: FSH is released by the anterior pituitary and stimulates ovarian
follicular development. Developing follicles produce estrogen. Progesterone
predominates after ovulation, oxytocin promotes uterine contractions, and hCG is
produced after implantation by trophoblastic tissue.
3. Which hormone is primarily responsible for triggering ovulation?
A. FSH
B. LH
C. Progesterone
D. Prolactin
Correct Answer: B. LH
Rationale: A midcycle surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) causes ovulation. FSH
supports follicular development, while progesterone rises after ovulation from
the corpus luteum.
4. Which hormone maintains the endometrium during the luteal phase?
A. Progesterone
B. FSH
C. Oxytocin
D. Prolactin
Correct Answer: A. Progesterone
,Rationale: Progesterone produced by the corpus luteum converts and maintains
the endometrium in a secretory state suitable for implantation. Declining
progesterone levels contribute to menstruation when pregnancy does not occur.
5. Where does fertilization normally occur?
A. Cervix
B. Uterine fundus
C. Ampulla of the fallopian tube
D. Vagina
Correct Answer: C. Ampulla of the fallopian tube
Rationale: Fertilization most commonly occurs in the ampullary portion of the
fallopian tube. The resulting zygote then travels toward the uterus for
implantation.
6. Which structure produces estrogen and progesterone during the reproductive
cycle?
A. Ovaries
B. Cervix
C. Vagina
D. Endometrium
Correct Answer: A. Ovaries
Rationale: The ovaries are the primary reproductive endocrine organs in the
nonpregnant reproductive-age female. Follicles produce estrogen, while the
corpus luteum produces progesterone after ovulation.
7. Which uterine layer is shed during menstruation?
A. Myometrium
B. Perimetrium
, C. Functional endometrium
D. Cervical stroma
Correct Answer: C. Functional endometrium
Rationale: The functional layer of the endometrium thickens in preparation for
implantation and is shed during menstruation when pregnancy does not occur.
The basal layer remains and regenerates the functional layer.
8. Which uterine layer is primarily responsible for contractions during labor?
A. Endometrium
B. Myometrium
C. Perimetrium
D. Cervical mucosa
Correct Answer: B. Myometrium
Rationale: The myometrium is the thick muscular layer of the uterus. Coordinated
contractions of this layer are responsible for cervical dilation and fetal expulsion
during labor.
9. Which portion of the uterus is the upper rounded area?
A. Cervix
B. Isthmus
C. Fundus
D. External os
Correct Answer: C. Fundus
Rationale: The fundus is the upper portion of the uterus above the main uterine
cavity. Fundal height is assessed during pregnancy as one indicator of fetal growth
and gestational age.
10. Which structure forms the lower portion of the uterus and opens into the
vagina?
Galen College of Nursing | Actual Questions &
Detailed Rationales
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section I — Reproductive Anatomy, Physiology & Hormones
Section II — Infertility, Conception & Early Development
Section III — Antepartum Assessment & Prenatal Care
Section IV — Physiologic Adaptations to Pregnancy
Section V — Nutrition, Health Promotion & Prenatal Teaching
Section VI — Fetal Development, Screening & Diagnostic Testing
Section VII — Antepartum Complications & Clinical Judgment
SECTION I — REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & HORMONES
1. Which structure is the primary site of ova maturation?
A. Uterus
B. Ovary
C. Cervix
D. Vagina
Correct Answer: B. Ovary
Rationale: The ovaries contain ovarian follicles where oocytes mature. They also
produce estrogen and progesterone. The uterus is the site of implantation and
fetal development, while the cervix and vagina form portions of the lower
reproductive tract.
,2. Which hormone stimulates ovarian follicle development during the menstrual
cycle?
A. Progesterone
B. Oxytocin
C. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
D. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Correct Answer: C. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Rationale: FSH is released by the anterior pituitary and stimulates ovarian
follicular development. Developing follicles produce estrogen. Progesterone
predominates after ovulation, oxytocin promotes uterine contractions, and hCG is
produced after implantation by trophoblastic tissue.
3. Which hormone is primarily responsible for triggering ovulation?
A. FSH
B. LH
C. Progesterone
D. Prolactin
Correct Answer: B. LH
Rationale: A midcycle surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) causes ovulation. FSH
supports follicular development, while progesterone rises after ovulation from
the corpus luteum.
4. Which hormone maintains the endometrium during the luteal phase?
A. Progesterone
B. FSH
C. Oxytocin
D. Prolactin
Correct Answer: A. Progesterone
,Rationale: Progesterone produced by the corpus luteum converts and maintains
the endometrium in a secretory state suitable for implantation. Declining
progesterone levels contribute to menstruation when pregnancy does not occur.
5. Where does fertilization normally occur?
A. Cervix
B. Uterine fundus
C. Ampulla of the fallopian tube
D. Vagina
Correct Answer: C. Ampulla of the fallopian tube
Rationale: Fertilization most commonly occurs in the ampullary portion of the
fallopian tube. The resulting zygote then travels toward the uterus for
implantation.
6. Which structure produces estrogen and progesterone during the reproductive
cycle?
A. Ovaries
B. Cervix
C. Vagina
D. Endometrium
Correct Answer: A. Ovaries
Rationale: The ovaries are the primary reproductive endocrine organs in the
nonpregnant reproductive-age female. Follicles produce estrogen, while the
corpus luteum produces progesterone after ovulation.
7. Which uterine layer is shed during menstruation?
A. Myometrium
B. Perimetrium
, C. Functional endometrium
D. Cervical stroma
Correct Answer: C. Functional endometrium
Rationale: The functional layer of the endometrium thickens in preparation for
implantation and is shed during menstruation when pregnancy does not occur.
The basal layer remains and regenerates the functional layer.
8. Which uterine layer is primarily responsible for contractions during labor?
A. Endometrium
B. Myometrium
C. Perimetrium
D. Cervical mucosa
Correct Answer: B. Myometrium
Rationale: The myometrium is the thick muscular layer of the uterus. Coordinated
contractions of this layer are responsible for cervical dilation and fetal expulsion
during labor.
9. Which portion of the uterus is the upper rounded area?
A. Cervix
B. Isthmus
C. Fundus
D. External os
Correct Answer: C. Fundus
Rationale: The fundus is the upper portion of the uterus above the main uterine
cavity. Fundal height is assessed during pregnancy as one indicator of fetal growth
and gestational age.
10. Which structure forms the lower portion of the uterus and opens into the
vagina?
