Fetal Development Questions Related

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A patient at 13 weeks gestation asks the nurse how her baby is nourished during pregnancy. Which information does the nurse use to explain the process to the mother?

  • A. Fetal waste products and CO2 pass through the placenta to the mother.
  • B. The placenta is a special organ developed to create nutrients and oxygen.
  • C. The mother’s blood and fetus’s blood mix for an exchange of nutrients.
  • D. Glucose, amino acids, and oxygen pass through the placenta from mother to baby.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for choice D being correct:
1. Glucose, amino acids, and oxygen are essential nutrients for fetal growth.
2. These nutrients pass through the placenta from the mother's blood to the baby's blood.
3. This exchange occurs via diffusion and active transport processes.
4. The placenta acts as a barrier, filtering out harmful substances like waste products and CO2.
5. This process ensures the baby receives necessary nutrients for development.

Summary of why other choices are incorrect:
A: Fetal waste products and CO2 pass from the baby to the mother, not the other way around.
B: The placenta facilitates nutrient and oxygen exchange but does not create them.
C: The mother's and baby's blood do not mix; exchange of nutrients occurs through the placental barrier.