Which statement best describes the changes that occur during the fetal period of development?
- A. Maturation of organ systems
- B. Development of basic organ systems
- C. Resistance of organs to damage from external agents
- D. Development of placental oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because during the fetal period, organ systems continue to mature and develop to become fully functional. This includes refining the structures and functions of organs that have already been formed during the embryonic period. Option B is incorrect because basic organ systems are already formed during the embryonic period. Option C is incorrect as organs are still susceptible to damage during the fetal period. Option D is incorrect because the development of placental oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange primarily occurs during the early stages of pregnancy, not specifically during the fetal period.
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The nurse is counseling a couple who just learned their 16-week fetus tested positive for a serious genetic disorder. Which action by the nurse is inappropriate upon learning that the couple plan to continue the pregnancy?
- A. Determine whether termination is still a consideration.
- B. Explain they will experience grief, which is normal.
- C. Provide additional information about the disorder.
- D. Refer them to a disorder-specific support group.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it respects the couple's decision-making autonomy. The nurse should support their choice to continue the pregnancy without suggesting termination. Providing information, emotional support, and connecting them with a support group are appropriate actions. It is crucial to respect the couple's decision and provide compassionate care regardless of their choice. The other choices are incorrect because they may undermine the couple's autonomy and may not be aligned with their wishes.
Conjoined twins are formed at which point of gestation?
- A. Immediately after fertilization
- B. At the time of implantation
- C. At about 13 to 15 days after conception
- D. In the blastocyst stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Conjoined twins are formed at about 13 to 15 days after conception when the embryonic disc undergoes incomplete splitting. At this stage, the cells have already differentiated into different layers, making separation challenging. Immediately after fertilization (choice A) is too early for conjoined twins to form. At the time of implantation (choice B) is when the blastocyst implants into the uterine wall, but conjoined twins are not formed at this point. In the blastocyst stage (choice D), the cells are still in the process of organizing and have not yet differentiated into distinct layers. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer as it aligns with the timing of conjoined twin formation during embryonic development.
Fetal circulation includes 3 shunts. Match each shunt to its physiologic action. Ductus venosus
- A. Connects the pulmonary artery and the aorta, bypassing the lungs.
- B. Connects the right and left atria.
- C. Connects the right and left ventricles.
- D. Allows the umbilical vein to bypass the liver to flow into the inferior vena cava.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ductus venosus allows the umbilical vein to bypass the liver.
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.
What is the point after which an ovum is fertilized and becomes impenetrable to any other sperm?
- A. The zona reaction
- B. Gametogenesis
- C. The zona pellucida
- D. Cleavage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: The zona reaction. After fertilization, the zona pellucida undergoes a biochemical change called the zona reaction, which makes the ovum impenetrable to any other sperm. This process prevents polyspermy and ensures that only one sperm can fertilize the egg. Gametogenesis refers to the production of gametes, not the post-fertilization event. The zona pellucida is the glycoprotein layer around the ovum, and cleavage is the rapid mitotic cell division that follows fertilization, but neither of these directly relate to the ovum becoming impenetrable to other sperm.