Midwifery Exam Practice – Verified
Q&A Guide for Menstrual Cycle,
Pregnancy, Hormones & Lactation.
What is the first stage of the menstrual cycle (that lasts 4-7 days) known as?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Menstrual Cycle
What is the second stage of the menstrual cycle (lasting 8-13 days) known as?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Follicular Phase
What is the third stage of the menstrual cycle, occurring at day 14, known as?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Ovulatory Phase
What is the final stage of the menstrual cycle known as? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Luteal Phase
What occurs during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~FSH causes follicle maturation in the ovary. Increased oestrogen
causes the endometrium to thicken and become a nourishing environment for a
potential pregnancy.
Define Ovulation :~CORRECT ANSWER~A period of heightened hormones
where a dominant follicle releases an egg into a Fallopian tube.
,Which hormone is responsible for ovulation? :~CORRECT ANSWER~LH
(Luteinizing Hormone)
What happens during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Oestrogen decreases, progesterone increases due to the corpus
luteum.
What happens during the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Oestrogen and progesterone decrease and the endometrial lining is
shed.
How long is an egg viable for following ovulation? :~CORRECT ANSWER~1
day
What happens if an egg is not fertilised? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Progesterone
decreases, corpus luteum is reabsorbed and FSH causes new follicles to start
maturing.
Define capacitation :~CORRECT ANSWER~The protective covering of the
acrosome of the sperm is removed.
What sort of reaction begins when a sperm comes into contact with an egg?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Cortical reaction - cortical granules block any other
sperm from entering the egg
, How many chromosomes does a zygote contain? :~CORRECT ANSWER~46, in
23 homologous pairs
How many cells does the merula have? :~CORRECT ANSWER~8 to 16
How many cells does the blastocyst have? :~CORRECT ANSWER~16 to 32
How many days after ovulation can implantation occur? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~6 to 10 days
Define decidualisation :~CORRECT ANSWER~Progesterone increases, creating
a hospitable environment for the developing fetus.
What are trophoblasts? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Cells on the outer layer of the
blastocyst
What are integrins? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Cell adhesion molecules that work
in implantation.
What is the chorion? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Fetal part of placenta made out of
trophoblast cells
Which hormone causes skin pigmentation in pregnancy? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Pituitary melanin-stimulating hormone
Q&A Guide for Menstrual Cycle,
Pregnancy, Hormones & Lactation.
What is the first stage of the menstrual cycle (that lasts 4-7 days) known as?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Menstrual Cycle
What is the second stage of the menstrual cycle (lasting 8-13 days) known as?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Follicular Phase
What is the third stage of the menstrual cycle, occurring at day 14, known as?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Ovulatory Phase
What is the final stage of the menstrual cycle known as? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Luteal Phase
What occurs during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~FSH causes follicle maturation in the ovary. Increased oestrogen
causes the endometrium to thicken and become a nourishing environment for a
potential pregnancy.
Define Ovulation :~CORRECT ANSWER~A period of heightened hormones
where a dominant follicle releases an egg into a Fallopian tube.
,Which hormone is responsible for ovulation? :~CORRECT ANSWER~LH
(Luteinizing Hormone)
What happens during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Oestrogen decreases, progesterone increases due to the corpus
luteum.
What happens during the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Oestrogen and progesterone decrease and the endometrial lining is
shed.
How long is an egg viable for following ovulation? :~CORRECT ANSWER~1
day
What happens if an egg is not fertilised? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Progesterone
decreases, corpus luteum is reabsorbed and FSH causes new follicles to start
maturing.
Define capacitation :~CORRECT ANSWER~The protective covering of the
acrosome of the sperm is removed.
What sort of reaction begins when a sperm comes into contact with an egg?
:~CORRECT ANSWER~Cortical reaction - cortical granules block any other
sperm from entering the egg
, How many chromosomes does a zygote contain? :~CORRECT ANSWER~46, in
23 homologous pairs
How many cells does the merula have? :~CORRECT ANSWER~8 to 16
How many cells does the blastocyst have? :~CORRECT ANSWER~16 to 32
How many days after ovulation can implantation occur? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~6 to 10 days
Define decidualisation :~CORRECT ANSWER~Progesterone increases, creating
a hospitable environment for the developing fetus.
What are trophoblasts? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Cells on the outer layer of the
blastocyst
What are integrins? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Cell adhesion molecules that work
in implantation.
What is the chorion? :~CORRECT ANSWER~Fetal part of placenta made out of
trophoblast cells
Which hormone causes skin pigmentation in pregnancy? :~CORRECT
ANSWER~Pituitary melanin-stimulating hormone
