Midwifery - Anatomy and Physiology -
Year 1 Questions and Answers (rated A)
What are the 3 phases of the first stage of labour? - ANSWER-Latent phase - 0-4cm,
irregular contractions, cervical canal shortens (3cm to less than 0.5cm).
Active phase - 4-8cm, regular contractions 2-5 mins apart and lasting over 60 seconds,
cervix is mid to anterior/soft, effaced.
Transitional - 8-10cm, can be brief lull in contractions, change in woman's behaviour.
Where does fertilisation usually occur? - ANSWER-Ampulla of the uterine tube.
What is the dosage of diamorphine and how is it given? - ANSWER-5-10mg (dependent
on patient size), 4 hourly and IM.
What is Pica? - ANSWER-Craving of non-food items such as clay, soap, coal, etc.
When should the nuchal translucency scan take place and what is it for? - ANSWER-
Between 11+2 and 14+1 weeks. It checks the fluid at the back of the baby's neck and is
an indicator for Down's syndrome.
What is tachysystole? - ANSWER-More than 5 contractions in 10 minutes in
spontaneous labour.
What is tachycardia? - ANSWER-A maternal pulse rate of over 100bpm.
Name 5 non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. - ANSWER-Water
Distraction techniques
TENS machine
Position
Massage
Hypnotherapy
Aromatherapy
Acupuncture
Breathing techniques
What changes occur in the maternal respiratory system during pregnancy? - ANSWER-
Oxygen consumption increases by up to 20-30%
Rib cage expands
,Tidal volume increases by up to 30-40%
Name 3 types of abnormal placenta. - ANSWER-Battledore insertion - cord inserted on
the edge
Velementous insertion - cord inserted through the membranes, some distance from the
placenta
Succenturiate lobe - a lobe which is separated from the main body but connected by the
placental blood vessels
Circumuallate - opaque ring
Bipartite - two separate lobes and a bifurcated cord
The zygote undergoes mitotic cellular division (clevage), resulting in the formation of
smaller cells. What is the zygote called at each of these changes (day 1, day 3 and day
4)? - ANSWER-Day 1 - blastomere
Day 3 - morula
Day 4 - blastocyst
There are 3 primary germ layers that are the main embryonic tissues, from which
structures and organs develop. What are they and what develops from them? -
ANSWER-Ectoderm - epidermis layer of skin, hair, nails and the nervous system
Mesoderm - muscle, skeleton, dermis of skin, connective tissue, urogenital gland, blood
vessels, blood and lymph cells
Endoderm - epithelial lining of the digestive, respiratory and urinary systems and
glandular organs, such as the liver and the pancreas
What is the dosage of meptid and how should it be given? - ANSWER-75-150mg, 2-4
hourly and IM.
What is haemoglobin broken down into? - ANSWER-Iron - which produces more red
blood cells
Globin - a protein used in the body
Un-conjugated bilirubin - toxic, fat-soluble, not easily excreted in bile/urine, causes
yellow discolouration of skin and deposits in the brain
Sensory receptors that respond to pain are called? - ANSWER-Nocioceptors
, What should you look for when performing a vaginal examination. - ANSWER-Labia -
varicosities, oedema, warts, sores, etc
Perineum - scars, epis, FGM, etc
Vaginal orifice - discharge, show, liquor, bleeding etc
Liquor - clear, bloodstained, offensive smell, mec etc
Rectum - loaded, or not (can impede descent)
Cervix - position, consistency, presenting part, effacement and dilation
Membranes - intact or not
Position of presenting part
Caput or moulding
Station
What is fetal axis pressure? - ANSWER-The force of a contraction, transmitted down
the upper pole of the fetus and down the long axis, onto the presenting part.
Does the pH of blood increase or decrease during pregnancy? - ANSWER-Increases -
due to an increased respiration rate (more oxygen and less CO2).
What are the names of the 5 temporary structures in the fetal circulation, prior to birth? -
ANSWER-Ductus venosus - connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava
Foramen ovale - opening between the left and right atria
Ductus arteriosus - leads from bifurcation of the pulmonary artery to the descending
aorta.
Umbilical arteries - branch from the internal iliac arteries and carry deoxygenated blood
from the placenta to the heart.
Umbilical vein - carries oxygenated blood back to the fetus. Bypasses the liver and
connects to the IVC.
What changes/symptoms occur, relating to the gastrointestinal system, during
pregnancy? - ANSWER-Bleeding and tender gums
Increased acidity of saliva
Year 1 Questions and Answers (rated A)
What are the 3 phases of the first stage of labour? - ANSWER-Latent phase - 0-4cm,
irregular contractions, cervical canal shortens (3cm to less than 0.5cm).
Active phase - 4-8cm, regular contractions 2-5 mins apart and lasting over 60 seconds,
cervix is mid to anterior/soft, effaced.
Transitional - 8-10cm, can be brief lull in contractions, change in woman's behaviour.
Where does fertilisation usually occur? - ANSWER-Ampulla of the uterine tube.
What is the dosage of diamorphine and how is it given? - ANSWER-5-10mg (dependent
on patient size), 4 hourly and IM.
What is Pica? - ANSWER-Craving of non-food items such as clay, soap, coal, etc.
When should the nuchal translucency scan take place and what is it for? - ANSWER-
Between 11+2 and 14+1 weeks. It checks the fluid at the back of the baby's neck and is
an indicator for Down's syndrome.
What is tachysystole? - ANSWER-More than 5 contractions in 10 minutes in
spontaneous labour.
What is tachycardia? - ANSWER-A maternal pulse rate of over 100bpm.
Name 5 non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. - ANSWER-Water
Distraction techniques
TENS machine
Position
Massage
Hypnotherapy
Aromatherapy
Acupuncture
Breathing techniques
What changes occur in the maternal respiratory system during pregnancy? - ANSWER-
Oxygen consumption increases by up to 20-30%
Rib cage expands
,Tidal volume increases by up to 30-40%
Name 3 types of abnormal placenta. - ANSWER-Battledore insertion - cord inserted on
the edge
Velementous insertion - cord inserted through the membranes, some distance from the
placenta
Succenturiate lobe - a lobe which is separated from the main body but connected by the
placental blood vessels
Circumuallate - opaque ring
Bipartite - two separate lobes and a bifurcated cord
The zygote undergoes mitotic cellular division (clevage), resulting in the formation of
smaller cells. What is the zygote called at each of these changes (day 1, day 3 and day
4)? - ANSWER-Day 1 - blastomere
Day 3 - morula
Day 4 - blastocyst
There are 3 primary germ layers that are the main embryonic tissues, from which
structures and organs develop. What are they and what develops from them? -
ANSWER-Ectoderm - epidermis layer of skin, hair, nails and the nervous system
Mesoderm - muscle, skeleton, dermis of skin, connective tissue, urogenital gland, blood
vessels, blood and lymph cells
Endoderm - epithelial lining of the digestive, respiratory and urinary systems and
glandular organs, such as the liver and the pancreas
What is the dosage of meptid and how should it be given? - ANSWER-75-150mg, 2-4
hourly and IM.
What is haemoglobin broken down into? - ANSWER-Iron - which produces more red
blood cells
Globin - a protein used in the body
Un-conjugated bilirubin - toxic, fat-soluble, not easily excreted in bile/urine, causes
yellow discolouration of skin and deposits in the brain
Sensory receptors that respond to pain are called? - ANSWER-Nocioceptors
, What should you look for when performing a vaginal examination. - ANSWER-Labia -
varicosities, oedema, warts, sores, etc
Perineum - scars, epis, FGM, etc
Vaginal orifice - discharge, show, liquor, bleeding etc
Liquor - clear, bloodstained, offensive smell, mec etc
Rectum - loaded, or not (can impede descent)
Cervix - position, consistency, presenting part, effacement and dilation
Membranes - intact or not
Position of presenting part
Caput or moulding
Station
What is fetal axis pressure? - ANSWER-The force of a contraction, transmitted down
the upper pole of the fetus and down the long axis, onto the presenting part.
Does the pH of blood increase or decrease during pregnancy? - ANSWER-Increases -
due to an increased respiration rate (more oxygen and less CO2).
What are the names of the 5 temporary structures in the fetal circulation, prior to birth? -
ANSWER-Ductus venosus - connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava
Foramen ovale - opening between the left and right atria
Ductus arteriosus - leads from bifurcation of the pulmonary artery to the descending
aorta.
Umbilical arteries - branch from the internal iliac arteries and carry deoxygenated blood
from the placenta to the heart.
Umbilical vein - carries oxygenated blood back to the fetus. Bypasses the liver and
connects to the IVC.
What changes/symptoms occur, relating to the gastrointestinal system, during
pregnancy? - ANSWER-Bleeding and tender gums
Increased acidity of saliva
