NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - (ANSWER)-reducing the number of preterm
births
-decreasing the number of unintended pregnancies
-lowering the risk of genetic disorders or environmental exposures
-reducing maternal and neonatal mortality
-improving maternal and child health outcomes
What day does the maternal-placental-embryonic circulation become in place to allow the heart to
beat? - (ANSWER)Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - (ANSWER)Within the first week of implantation
The villi erode the walls or ________ _____ _______ as they penetrate the ________, opening them up
so that a lake of maternal blood forms, in which the villi float. - (ANSWER)-maternal blood vessels
-decidua
The maternal blood circulates slowly, allowing fetal capillaries within the villi to absorb nutrients and
oxygen and to excrete waste. The _________ _____ are capable of carrying out this fetal/maternal
exchange by the third week after conception. - (ANSWER)-chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - (ANSWER)Approximately 18-20
weeks after conception, when the majority of villi are established.
Fetal/maternal exchange (of gases, nutrients, and wastes) occurs across or through the cell membranes
that line the outside of the chorionic villi. There is no mixing of maternal and fetal blood unless there is a
break in these membranes. Can the baby have a completely different blood type than the mother? -
(ANSWER)Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - (ANSWER)-Sieve
-blood cannot pass through the cell membranes but other substances can such as, drugs, infectious
agents and maternal antibodies.
,NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
The placenta secretes 4 pregnancy hormones. What are they and how do they function? -
(ANSWER)Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (protein)
•preserves the function of the corpus luteum, ensuring a continued supply of estrogen and
progesterone needed to maintain pregnancy
Human placental lactogen (hPL) (Protein)
•stimulates the maternal metabolism to supply nutrients for fetal growth
•increases maternal resistance to insulin, and facilitates glucose transport across the placental
membrane
•stimulates breast development in preparation for lactation
Progesterone (steroid)
•maintains endometrium
•decreases contractility of the uterus
•stimulates development of breast alveoli
•stimulates maternal metabolism
Estrogen (steroid)
•stimulates uterine growth and uteroplacental blood flow
•causes proliferation of breast glandular tissue
What are the 4 metabolic functions of the placenta? - (ANSWER)-respiration
-nutrition
-excretion
-storage
,NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
Marnie stopped using birth control 3 months ago. This month instead of receiving her normal period she
experienced just a small amount of spotting. What might the cause of this spotting be? -
(ANSWER)Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - (ANSWER)Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - (ANSWER)one vein and two arteries
What does the vein transport? - (ANSWER)oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
What do the arteries transport? - (ANSWER)They transport Carbon dioxide and wastes from the fetus to
the placenta.
What is the gelatinous substance surrounding the umbilical vein and arteries? What does it do? -
(ANSWER)Wharton's Jelly
protects the cord from compression
What is the average measurement of the cord? - (ANSWER)approx. 55 cm
What are the two fetal membranes that surround the fetus throughout pregnancy? and which one is the
inner and outer layer? - (ANSWER)Chorion: (outer layer)
-has villi that burrow into the decidua basalis
Amnion:
-inner cell membrane
Eventually the two membranes adhere and form the amniotic sac -this fetal sac protects against
infection
When do the fetal kidneys start working? - (ANSWER)10-12 weeks
, NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
What does the amniotic fluid consist of? - (ANSWER)urine mostly, fluid may also be referred as liquor.
Amt of fluid increases as pregnancy increases
Normal amt of fluid is 800-1200 ml of liquor
300 mls of amniotic fluid or less is considered low in the third trimester. What is the appropriate medical
term and what is it associated with? - (ANSWER)oligohydramnios
associated with fetal renal anomalies and growth restriction
2L or more of amniotic fluid is considered above normal. What is the appropriate medical term and what
is it associated with? - (ANSWER)polyhydramnios
associated with neural tube defects, GI or other fetal anomalies
What is the amniotic fluid composed of? - (ANSWER)Normal amniotic fluid is clear, pale straw-colored,
and has a characteristic odor that is neither foul smelling nor like urine. It is composed mostly of water
but contains a number of dissolved solids, including food substances and waste products. It also
contains fetal skin cells, hair, and vernix caseosa, a protective cheese-like substance that covers the
fetus in utero.
What can an amniocentesis provide? - (ANSWER)information such as a fetus' genetic makeup, sex, and
lung maturity.
The amniotic fluid enclosed inside the membranes, sometimes referred to as "the bag of waters," serves
a number of important functions, what are they? - (ANSWER)•helps to maintain a constant temperature
for the embryo/fetus
•equalizes pressure and cushions the fetus from trauma
•protects the embryo/fetus from infection
•distends the amniotic sac, allowing freedom of movement for the fetus
•keeps the embryo from becoming tangled with the membranes
•provides fluid for the fetus to swallow and "breathe"
•provides a repository for fetal waste (urine)
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - (ANSWER)-reducing the number of preterm
births
-decreasing the number of unintended pregnancies
-lowering the risk of genetic disorders or environmental exposures
-reducing maternal and neonatal mortality
-improving maternal and child health outcomes
What day does the maternal-placental-embryonic circulation become in place to allow the heart to
beat? - (ANSWER)Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - (ANSWER)Within the first week of implantation
The villi erode the walls or ________ _____ _______ as they penetrate the ________, opening them up
so that a lake of maternal blood forms, in which the villi float. - (ANSWER)-maternal blood vessels
-decidua
The maternal blood circulates slowly, allowing fetal capillaries within the villi to absorb nutrients and
oxygen and to excrete waste. The _________ _____ are capable of carrying out this fetal/maternal
exchange by the third week after conception. - (ANSWER)-chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - (ANSWER)Approximately 18-20
weeks after conception, when the majority of villi are established.
Fetal/maternal exchange (of gases, nutrients, and wastes) occurs across or through the cell membranes
that line the outside of the chorionic villi. There is no mixing of maternal and fetal blood unless there is a
break in these membranes. Can the baby have a completely different blood type than the mother? -
(ANSWER)Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - (ANSWER)-Sieve
-blood cannot pass through the cell membranes but other substances can such as, drugs, infectious
agents and maternal antibodies.
,NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
The placenta secretes 4 pregnancy hormones. What are they and how do they function? -
(ANSWER)Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (protein)
•preserves the function of the corpus luteum, ensuring a continued supply of estrogen and
progesterone needed to maintain pregnancy
Human placental lactogen (hPL) (Protein)
•stimulates the maternal metabolism to supply nutrients for fetal growth
•increases maternal resistance to insulin, and facilitates glucose transport across the placental
membrane
•stimulates breast development in preparation for lactation
Progesterone (steroid)
•maintains endometrium
•decreases contractility of the uterus
•stimulates development of breast alveoli
•stimulates maternal metabolism
Estrogen (steroid)
•stimulates uterine growth and uteroplacental blood flow
•causes proliferation of breast glandular tissue
What are the 4 metabolic functions of the placenta? - (ANSWER)-respiration
-nutrition
-excretion
-storage
,NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
Marnie stopped using birth control 3 months ago. This month instead of receiving her normal period she
experienced just a small amount of spotting. What might the cause of this spotting be? -
(ANSWER)Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - (ANSWER)Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - (ANSWER)one vein and two arteries
What does the vein transport? - (ANSWER)oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
What do the arteries transport? - (ANSWER)They transport Carbon dioxide and wastes from the fetus to
the placenta.
What is the gelatinous substance surrounding the umbilical vein and arteries? What does it do? -
(ANSWER)Wharton's Jelly
protects the cord from compression
What is the average measurement of the cord? - (ANSWER)approx. 55 cm
What are the two fetal membranes that surround the fetus throughout pregnancy? and which one is the
inner and outer layer? - (ANSWER)Chorion: (outer layer)
-has villi that burrow into the decidua basalis
Amnion:
-inner cell membrane
Eventually the two membranes adhere and form the amniotic sac -this fetal sac protects against
infection
When do the fetal kidneys start working? - (ANSWER)10-12 weeks
, NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
What does the amniotic fluid consist of? - (ANSWER)urine mostly, fluid may also be referred as liquor.
Amt of fluid increases as pregnancy increases
Normal amt of fluid is 800-1200 ml of liquor
300 mls of amniotic fluid or less is considered low in the third trimester. What is the appropriate medical
term and what is it associated with? - (ANSWER)oligohydramnios
associated with fetal renal anomalies and growth restriction
2L or more of amniotic fluid is considered above normal. What is the appropriate medical term and what
is it associated with? - (ANSWER)polyhydramnios
associated with neural tube defects, GI or other fetal anomalies
What is the amniotic fluid composed of? - (ANSWER)Normal amniotic fluid is clear, pale straw-colored,
and has a characteristic odor that is neither foul smelling nor like urine. It is composed mostly of water
but contains a number of dissolved solids, including food substances and waste products. It also
contains fetal skin cells, hair, and vernix caseosa, a protective cheese-like substance that covers the
fetus in utero.
What can an amniocentesis provide? - (ANSWER)information such as a fetus' genetic makeup, sex, and
lung maturity.
The amniotic fluid enclosed inside the membranes, sometimes referred to as "the bag of waters," serves
a number of important functions, what are they? - (ANSWER)•helps to maintain a constant temperature
for the embryo/fetus
•equalizes pressure and cushions the fetus from trauma
•protects the embryo/fetus from infection
•distends the amniotic sac, allowing freedom of movement for the fetus
•keeps the embryo from becoming tangled with the membranes
•provides fluid for the fetus to swallow and "breathe"
•provides a repository for fetal waste (urine)
