QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1.What is the first stage of the menstrual cycle (that lasts 4-7 days)
known as?: Menstrual Cycle
2.What is the second stage of the menstrual cycle (lasting 8-13 days)
known as?: Follicular Phase
3.What is the third stage of the menstrual cycle, occurring at day 14,
known as?: Ovulatory Phase
4.What is the final stage of the menstrual cycle known as?: Luteal Phase
5.What occurs during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle?: FSH
causes follicle maturation in the ovary. Increased oestrogen causes the
endometrium to thicken and become a nourishing environment for a
potential pregnancy.
6.Define Ovulation: A period of heightened hormones where a
dominant follicle releases an egg into a Fallopian tube.
7.Which hormone is responsible for ovulation?: LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
8.What happens during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?:
Oestrogen decreases, progesterone increases due to the corpus
luteum.
9.What happens during the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle?:
Oestro- gen and progesterone decrease and the endometrial lining is
shed.
10.How long is an egg viable for following ovulation?: 1 day
11.What happens if an egg is not fertilised?: Progesterone decreases,
corpus luteum is reabsorbed and FSH causes new follicles to start
maturing.
12.Define capacitation: The protective covering of the acrosome of the
sperm is removed.
13.What sort of reaction begins when a sperm comes into contact with an
egg?: Cortical reaction - cortical granules block any other sperm from
entering the egg
14.How many chromosomes does a zygote contain?: 46, in 23
homologous pairs
15.How many cells does the merula have?: 8 to 16
16.How many cells does the blastocyst have?: 16 to 32
17.How many days after ovulation can implantation occur?: 6 to 10 days
18.Define decidualisation: Progesterone increases, creating a hospitable
environ- ment for the developing fetus.
19.What are trophoblasts?: Cells on the outer layer of the blastocyst
20.What are integrins?: Cell adhesion molecules that work in implantation
21.What is the chorion?: Fetal part of placenta made out of trophoblast
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, MIDWIFERY EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
cells
22.Which hormone causes skin pigmentation in pregnancy?:
Pituitary melanin-stimulating hormone
23.What is the linea nigra?: Abdominal midline
24.What is striae gravidarum?: Stretch marks
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