EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS PASSED ALREADY
GRADED A+
What category rules out fetal acidemia? - CORRECT ANSWER Cat 1
What maternal conditions greatly impact fetal oxygenation? - CORRECT ANSWER
Severe Astha, cardiac issues, and eclamptic seizures
Where does the exchange of O2 and nutrients take place? - CORRECT ANSWER
intervillous space
How is o2 blood transferred to the fetus? - CORRECT ANSWER O2 enters the
intervillous space via the maternal arteries, to the villi then the umbilical vein take the o2
blood to the fetus. The umbilical arteries take the deO2 blood from the baby through the
villi and back to the mother
Diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER High to low concentration
Mom to fetus for O2
Low to high concentration for CO2 so baby to mom
How is O2 transferred from mom to baby - CORRECT ANSWER Diffusion
Explain spiral arteries in placenta - CORRECT ANSWER Carry O2 into intervillous
space
Are maximally dilated so they can not be increased
What are factors that can decrease uteroplacental blood flow? - CORRECT ANSWER
Maternal conditions like pre-e and cardiac disease
Maternal hypotension
Placental changes- abruptions, infections, edema, or smaller size
Excessive uterine activity
Vasoconstriction
What happens to the spiral arteries during pre-e? - CORRECT ANSWER They are
constricted which decreases blood flow
Why does the supine position cause decreased uteroplactenal blood flow? - CORRECT
ANSWER The aorta and vena cava get compressed (20 weeks)
, Why does maternal hypotension happen after regional analgesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER Blocks the sympathetic pathway
Pooling of blood in the lower extremities decreases blood flow back to moms heart
which decreases blood flow to the fetus
What percentage is uteroplacental blood flow decreased by during cxts? - CORRECT
ANSWER 60%
Explain the pathway for maternal- fetal exchange for fetal oxygenation (basic) -
CORRECT ANSWER Environment to lungs to heart to vasculature to uterus to placenta
to umbilical cord
Where is the least O2 blood in the fetus? - CORRECT ANSWER Limbs, kidneys, and
descending aorta
Where is the most O2 blood in the fetus? - CORRECT ANSWER Umbilical vein and
ductous venous
Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, bypassing the liver
Shunt that allows most O2 blood to fetal heart - CORRECT ANSWER Ductus venosus
3 important shunts in fetal circulation - CORRECT ANSWER ductus venosus, foramen
ovale, ductus arteriosus
connects the two atria in the fetal heart
Allows O2 blood to flow through the heart and directly to the brain - CORRECT
ANSWER Foramen Ovale
a blood vessel in a fetus that bypasses pulmonary circulation by connecting the
pulmonary artery directly to the ascending aorta - CORRECT ANSWER Ductus
Arteriosus
What is a normal blood volume for a fetus at term? - CORRECT ANSWER 80-100
mL/kg
What happens if you stimulate the sympathetic nervous system? - CORRECT
ANSWER Increased heart rate
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do? - CORRECT ANSWER Regulates
the sympathetic
What happens when catecholamines (sympathetic) get released? - CORRECT
ANSWER Increased heart rate