NSPN 7100 Final Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - Answers -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? - Answers Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - Answers 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. - Answers -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. - Answers -chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - Answers 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? - Answers Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - Answers -Sieve
-blood cannot pass through the cell membranes but other substances can such as, drugs,
infectious agents and maternal antibodies.
The placenta secretes 4 pregnancy hormones. What are they and how do they function? -
Answers 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? - Answers -respiration
-nutrition
-excretion
-storage
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? - Answers Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - Answers Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - Answers one vein and two arteries
What does the vein transport? - Answers oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
What do the arteries transport? - Answers 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? -
Answers Wharton's Jelly
protects the cord from compression
What is the average measurement of the cord? - Answers approx. 55 cm
What are the two fetal membranes that surround the fetus throughout pregnancy? and which
one is the inner and outer layer? - Answers 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? - Answers 10-12 weeks
What does the amniotic fluid consist of? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers polyhydramnios
associated with neural tube defects, GI or other fetal anomalies
What is the amniotic fluid composed of? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers •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)
•protects the placenta, umbilical cord, and baby from pressure of contractions and aids in the
effacement and dilatation of the cervix during labour
When does the embryos heart start beating? and when is the placenta structurally complete? -
Answers The embryo's heart starts beating by day 17 after conception, and the placenta is
structurally complete by the 12th week after conception.
Describe the fetal and maternal side of the placenta. - Answers The fetal side of the placenta is
smooth, shiny, and bluishpurple, with veins branching out from the umbilical cord, which is
usually attached in the center to the edges of the placenta (like tree roots). The maternal side of
the placenta is red, rough textured, and looks a little like liver. It is made up of 15-20 cotyledons,
or little sections, which are separated by furrows. It is sometimes gritty with grey or white
calcium deposits.
If a pregnant woman's blood circulation is compromised, what is the best position for maximal
blood flow to the placenta? - Answers The best position to ensure maximum blood flow to the
placenta is lying on her left side.
What does growth refer to? - Answers refers to the increasing size of the fetus and occurs
throughout normal pregnancy. It is a result of two factors:
•an increase in the number of fetal cells
•an increase in the size of the fetal cells.
What does development refer to? - Answers refers to the functional and structural changes that
occur in the fetal organ systems and occur throughout normal pregnancy.
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - Answers -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? - Answers Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - Answers 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. - Answers -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. - Answers -chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - Answers 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? - Answers Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - Answers -Sieve
-blood cannot pass through the cell membranes but other substances can such as, drugs,
infectious agents and maternal antibodies.
The placenta secretes 4 pregnancy hormones. What are they and how do they function? -
Answers 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? - Answers -respiration
-nutrition
-excretion
-storage
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? - Answers Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - Answers Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - Answers one vein and two arteries
What does the vein transport? - Answers oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
What do the arteries transport? - Answers 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? -
Answers Wharton's Jelly
protects the cord from compression
What is the average measurement of the cord? - Answers approx. 55 cm
What are the two fetal membranes that surround the fetus throughout pregnancy? and which
one is the inner and outer layer? - Answers 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? - Answers 10-12 weeks
What does the amniotic fluid consist of? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers polyhydramnios
associated with neural tube defects, GI or other fetal anomalies
What is the amniotic fluid composed of? - Answers 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? - Answers 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? - Answers •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)
•protects the placenta, umbilical cord, and baby from pressure of contractions and aids in the
effacement and dilatation of the cervix during labour
When does the embryos heart start beating? and when is the placenta structurally complete? -
Answers The embryo's heart starts beating by day 17 after conception, and the placenta is
structurally complete by the 12th week after conception.
Describe the fetal and maternal side of the placenta. - Answers The fetal side of the placenta is
smooth, shiny, and bluishpurple, with veins branching out from the umbilical cord, which is
usually attached in the center to the edges of the placenta (like tree roots). The maternal side of
the placenta is red, rough textured, and looks a little like liver. It is made up of 15-20 cotyledons,
or little sections, which are separated by furrows. It is sometimes gritty with grey or white
calcium deposits.
If a pregnant woman's blood circulation is compromised, what is the best position for maximal
blood flow to the placenta? - Answers The best position to ensure maximum blood flow to the
placenta is lying on her left side.
What does growth refer to? - Answers refers to the increasing size of the fetus and occurs
throughout normal pregnancy. It is a result of two factors:
•an increase in the number of fetal cells
•an increase in the size of the fetal cells.
What does development refer to? - Answers refers to the functional and structural changes that
occur in the fetal organ systems and occur throughout normal pregnancy.
