PPN 301- Midterm #2- Week 7 Practice
Test Questions With 100% Correct
Answers 2026 Updated.
What are the three physiological adaptations of the newborn - Answer 1. establishing &
maintaining respirations
2. adjusting to circulatory changes
3. regulating temperature
what are the four mechanisms to maintain respirations? - Answer chemical factors, thermal
factors, mechanical factors, sensory factors
what happens to the baby when there's a contraction? (in relation to the chemical factor
mechanism of establishing and maintaining respirations)
& what happens to blood gasses, specifically O2, CO2, and pH
& acidosis or alkalosis? - Answer results in temporary decrease of uterine blood flow and
transplacental gas exchange, resulting in transient fetal hypoxia
"the baby's heart rate increases because they're a little stressed, which causes a slight
(transient) hypoxia"
so decreased PO2, increased PCO2, and decreased pH, acidosis
Which gas stimulates the respiratory centre? - Answer CO2; when CO2 is higher, the
respiratory centre in the medulla stimulates breathing initiation of new breathing
remember its stimulated by CO2, NOT O2
T or F: lack of O2 stimulates the initiation of breathing from the respiratory centre in the
medulla - Answer FALSE, it's an increased amount of CO2 that stimulates this, not lack of O2
how do thermal factors stimulate breathing? - Answer the decreased warmth in the
extrauterine environment stimulates thermal receptors on the skin, resulting in stimulation of
the respiratory in the medulla (cold stress)
explain cold stress - Answer is an important reaction for initializing breathing, but prolonged
exposure should be avoided because prolonged cold stress can result in hypothermia
explain how mechanical factors establish and maintain newborn respiration (intrathoracic
pressure) - Answer the changes in intrathoracic pressure from compression of the chest during
vaginal birth, basically the relief of that pressure results in negative intrathoracic pressure,
which helps draw air into the lungs
, explain how mechanical factors establish and maintain newborn respiration (crying) - Answer
crying of the baby increases the distribution of air into the lungs and promotes alveoli
expansion
it also creates positive pressure, which helps to keep the alveoli open
explain how sensory factors establish and maintain newborn respiration - Answer all of the
sensory stimulation as they leave intrauterine to extrauterine can trigger/stimulate respiratory
system
e.g. handling or drying the newborn, lights, sounds, voices, smells, & pain associated with birth
what is a foramen ovale - Answer a small, slit-like defect that separates the right and left
atriums of the heart
normally, this closes shortly after birth (6-18hours) due to pressure on the atrium and allows for
a normal blood flow
explain how a newborn's breathing aids in adjusting to circulatory changes after birth - Answer
when a baby takes a breath, the systemica resistance increases and the blood pressure
increases which will eventually close the foramen ovale
what is patent foramen ovale - Answer when the foramen ovale does not properly close,
blood is abnormally shunted between the right and left atria and surgical repair is required
what is MOST critical to a newborn's survival (when discussing physiological adaptations of the
newborn)? - Answer thermoregulation
What are the anatomical and physiological characteristics of a newborn that put them at risk for
heat-loss hypothermia (5) - Answer CLLUB
- Come out moist - moistness evaporates - can make them cold
- Larger body surface area to weight ratio
- Less adipose tissue & fat in newborns (adipose + fat provides more layer/protection between
blood vessels and skin, so lack of that makes babies more sensitive)
- Underdeveloped sweating and shivering mechanisms
- Blood vessels are closer to skin surface - contributes to heat loss
what are the four ways a newborn can lose heat? - Answer RECC
radiation, evaporation, convection, conduction
Test Questions With 100% Correct
Answers 2026 Updated.
What are the three physiological adaptations of the newborn - Answer 1. establishing &
maintaining respirations
2. adjusting to circulatory changes
3. regulating temperature
what are the four mechanisms to maintain respirations? - Answer chemical factors, thermal
factors, mechanical factors, sensory factors
what happens to the baby when there's a contraction? (in relation to the chemical factor
mechanism of establishing and maintaining respirations)
& what happens to blood gasses, specifically O2, CO2, and pH
& acidosis or alkalosis? - Answer results in temporary decrease of uterine blood flow and
transplacental gas exchange, resulting in transient fetal hypoxia
"the baby's heart rate increases because they're a little stressed, which causes a slight
(transient) hypoxia"
so decreased PO2, increased PCO2, and decreased pH, acidosis
Which gas stimulates the respiratory centre? - Answer CO2; when CO2 is higher, the
respiratory centre in the medulla stimulates breathing initiation of new breathing
remember its stimulated by CO2, NOT O2
T or F: lack of O2 stimulates the initiation of breathing from the respiratory centre in the
medulla - Answer FALSE, it's an increased amount of CO2 that stimulates this, not lack of O2
how do thermal factors stimulate breathing? - Answer the decreased warmth in the
extrauterine environment stimulates thermal receptors on the skin, resulting in stimulation of
the respiratory in the medulla (cold stress)
explain cold stress - Answer is an important reaction for initializing breathing, but prolonged
exposure should be avoided because prolonged cold stress can result in hypothermia
explain how mechanical factors establish and maintain newborn respiration (intrathoracic
pressure) - Answer the changes in intrathoracic pressure from compression of the chest during
vaginal birth, basically the relief of that pressure results in negative intrathoracic pressure,
which helps draw air into the lungs
, explain how mechanical factors establish and maintain newborn respiration (crying) - Answer
crying of the baby increases the distribution of air into the lungs and promotes alveoli
expansion
it also creates positive pressure, which helps to keep the alveoli open
explain how sensory factors establish and maintain newborn respiration - Answer all of the
sensory stimulation as they leave intrauterine to extrauterine can trigger/stimulate respiratory
system
e.g. handling or drying the newborn, lights, sounds, voices, smells, & pain associated with birth
what is a foramen ovale - Answer a small, slit-like defect that separates the right and left
atriums of the heart
normally, this closes shortly after birth (6-18hours) due to pressure on the atrium and allows for
a normal blood flow
explain how a newborn's breathing aids in adjusting to circulatory changes after birth - Answer
when a baby takes a breath, the systemica resistance increases and the blood pressure
increases which will eventually close the foramen ovale
what is patent foramen ovale - Answer when the foramen ovale does not properly close,
blood is abnormally shunted between the right and left atria and surgical repair is required
what is MOST critical to a newborn's survival (when discussing physiological adaptations of the
newborn)? - Answer thermoregulation
What are the anatomical and physiological characteristics of a newborn that put them at risk for
heat-loss hypothermia (5) - Answer CLLUB
- Come out moist - moistness evaporates - can make them cold
- Larger body surface area to weight ratio
- Less adipose tissue & fat in newborns (adipose + fat provides more layer/protection between
blood vessels and skin, so lack of that makes babies more sensitive)
- Underdeveloped sweating and shivering mechanisms
- Blood vessels are closer to skin surface - contributes to heat loss
what are the four ways a newborn can lose heat? - Answer RECC
radiation, evaporation, convection, conduction
