NUR401 Exam Questions with Answers
Pre-embryonic period - ✔✔conception to two weeks;
implentation occurs at days 6-10 in the desidua basalis which will form the placenta
zygote secretes hCG to promote estrogen/progesterone secretion to support the pregnancy
embryonic period - ✔✔weeks 3-8
differentiation of cells occurs, can be altered/damaged by teratogens
- forms from 3 different germ layers (autoderm, mesoderm, endoderm)
neural tube closes at 4 weeks (risk of anencephaly or spina bifida)
fetal health tones at 21-22 days
all major organ systems have basic structures formed by 8 weeks
fetal period - ✔✔9 weeks to birth; period of growth and refinement
urine production begins (9-12 weeks)
sex can be determined by week 12
quickening occurs at 16-20 weeks
viability at 24 weeks
full term at 38-40 weeks
Placenta - ✔✔thick, disk-shaped organ with metabolic/endocrine functions that also facilitates
the transport of substances between mother and fetus
Placenta endocrine functions - ✔✔hCG, estrogen, progesterone, human chorionic somatotropin
human chorionic somatotropin - ✔✔Decreases insulin sensitivity in mom to increase glucose
availability for fetus
,Placenta blood flow - ✔✔Two umbilical arteries remove deoxygenated blood and waste
products from the fetus and deliver them to maternal circulation
One umbilical vein brings oxygenated blood and nutrients to the fetal circulation
Fetal Membranes - ✔✔Amnion: inner membrane; continuous with the surface of the umbilical
cord and joins the epithelium on the fetus's abdomen
Chorion: outer membrane; forms from the gradual erosion of the chorionic villi
Amniotic fluid - ✔✔fluid that protects the fetus and promotes development; cushioning and
stable temperature
Oligohydraminos - ✔✔less than 500mL of fluid; leads to poor fetal lung development (newborn
respiratory distress) and physical malformations
caused by issues with kidneys and blood flow
Hyrdaminos/polyhydraminos - ✔✔can be in excess of 2000mL of fluid; caused by severe GI/CNS
malformations
causes preterm birth, cord prolapse and placental abruption
Umbilical cord - ✔✔encases two arteries and one vein for the transport of blood, nutrients, and
waste products between mother and fetus
Ductus Venosus - ✔✔first shunt; in the inferior vena cava through which blood bypasses the
liver in early pregnancy
Foramen Ovale - ✔✔second shunt; moves blood directly from right atrium to left atrium
, Ductus arteriosus - ✔✔Third shunt; blood from the right ventricle joins oxygenated blood in the
aorta
Hegar's Sign - ✔✔softening of the lower uterine segment
Chadwick's Sign - ✔✔estrogen causes hyperemia of the cervix, which gives the cervix a blue-
purple color; earliest sign of pregnancy
Goodell's Sign - ✔✔cervix softens to consistency of lips/ear lobe
Changes in vagina/vulva in pregnancy - ✔✔increased vascularity, edema, and connective tissue
changes make the vulva and perineum more pliable
Changes in the ovaries in pregnancy - ✔✔secrete progesterone for first 10-12 weeks to support
the pregnancy before the development of the placenta
Changes in the heart in pregnancy - ✔✔increased cardiac output, increased heart rate by 15-20
bpm
changes in blood volume in pregnancy - ✔✔increase in blood volume by at least 45%, RBC
dilution (may appear anemic)
changes in systemic vascular resistance in pregnancy - ✔✔decrease in SVR due to vasodilation
from progesterone/prostaglandins
what is normal for a patient's blood pressure in pregnancy? - ✔✔remains the same or slightly
lower compared to pre-pregnancy BP
Pre-embryonic period - ✔✔conception to two weeks;
implentation occurs at days 6-10 in the desidua basalis which will form the placenta
zygote secretes hCG to promote estrogen/progesterone secretion to support the pregnancy
embryonic period - ✔✔weeks 3-8
differentiation of cells occurs, can be altered/damaged by teratogens
- forms from 3 different germ layers (autoderm, mesoderm, endoderm)
neural tube closes at 4 weeks (risk of anencephaly or spina bifida)
fetal health tones at 21-22 days
all major organ systems have basic structures formed by 8 weeks
fetal period - ✔✔9 weeks to birth; period of growth and refinement
urine production begins (9-12 weeks)
sex can be determined by week 12
quickening occurs at 16-20 weeks
viability at 24 weeks
full term at 38-40 weeks
Placenta - ✔✔thick, disk-shaped organ with metabolic/endocrine functions that also facilitates
the transport of substances between mother and fetus
Placenta endocrine functions - ✔✔hCG, estrogen, progesterone, human chorionic somatotropin
human chorionic somatotropin - ✔✔Decreases insulin sensitivity in mom to increase glucose
availability for fetus
,Placenta blood flow - ✔✔Two umbilical arteries remove deoxygenated blood and waste
products from the fetus and deliver them to maternal circulation
One umbilical vein brings oxygenated blood and nutrients to the fetal circulation
Fetal Membranes - ✔✔Amnion: inner membrane; continuous with the surface of the umbilical
cord and joins the epithelium on the fetus's abdomen
Chorion: outer membrane; forms from the gradual erosion of the chorionic villi
Amniotic fluid - ✔✔fluid that protects the fetus and promotes development; cushioning and
stable temperature
Oligohydraminos - ✔✔less than 500mL of fluid; leads to poor fetal lung development (newborn
respiratory distress) and physical malformations
caused by issues with kidneys and blood flow
Hyrdaminos/polyhydraminos - ✔✔can be in excess of 2000mL of fluid; caused by severe GI/CNS
malformations
causes preterm birth, cord prolapse and placental abruption
Umbilical cord - ✔✔encases two arteries and one vein for the transport of blood, nutrients, and
waste products between mother and fetus
Ductus Venosus - ✔✔first shunt; in the inferior vena cava through which blood bypasses the
liver in early pregnancy
Foramen Ovale - ✔✔second shunt; moves blood directly from right atrium to left atrium
, Ductus arteriosus - ✔✔Third shunt; blood from the right ventricle joins oxygenated blood in the
aorta
Hegar's Sign - ✔✔softening of the lower uterine segment
Chadwick's Sign - ✔✔estrogen causes hyperemia of the cervix, which gives the cervix a blue-
purple color; earliest sign of pregnancy
Goodell's Sign - ✔✔cervix softens to consistency of lips/ear lobe
Changes in vagina/vulva in pregnancy - ✔✔increased vascularity, edema, and connective tissue
changes make the vulva and perineum more pliable
Changes in the ovaries in pregnancy - ✔✔secrete progesterone for first 10-12 weeks to support
the pregnancy before the development of the placenta
Changes in the heart in pregnancy - ✔✔increased cardiac output, increased heart rate by 15-20
bpm
changes in blood volume in pregnancy - ✔✔increase in blood volume by at least 45%, RBC
dilution (may appear anemic)
changes in systemic vascular resistance in pregnancy - ✔✔decrease in SVR due to vasodilation
from progesterone/prostaglandins
what is normal for a patient's blood pressure in pregnancy? - ✔✔remains the same or slightly
lower compared to pre-pregnancy BP
