NSPN 7100 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - ANS -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? - ANS Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - ANS 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. - ANS -maternal blood
vessels
-decidua
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,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. - ANS -chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - ANS 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? - ANS Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - ANS -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? -
ANS 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
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,•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? - ANS -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? - ANS Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - ANS Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - ANS one vein and two arteries
What does the vein transport? - ANS oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
What do the arteries transport? - ANS They transport Carbon dioxide and wastes from the
fetus to the placenta.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is the gelatinous substance surrounding the umbilical vein and arteries? What does it do?
- ANS Wharton's Jelly
protects the cord from compression
What is the average measurement of the cord? - ANS approx. 55 cm
What are the two fetal membranes that surround the fetus throughout pregnancy? and which
one is the inner and outer layer? - ANS 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? - ANS 10-12 weeks
What does the amniotic fluid consist of? - ANS 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? - ANS oligohydramnios
associated with fetal renal anomalies and growth restriction
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What are some short term benefits of preconception care? - ANS -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? - ANS Day 17
When does the placenta develop? - ANS 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. - ANS -maternal blood
vessels
-decidua
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,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. - ANS -chorionic villi
As the placenta continues to grow, when do the villi proliferate until? - ANS 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? - ANS Yes
The placenta is not a "barrier" but a _____. - ANS -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? -
ANS 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
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,•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? - ANS -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? - ANS Implantation bleeding
What does the umbilical cord transport? - ANS Fetal blood to and from the placenta
How many veins and arteries does the umbilical cord have? - ANS one vein and two arteries
What does the vein transport? - ANS oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
What do the arteries transport? - ANS They transport Carbon dioxide and wastes from the
fetus to the placenta.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is the gelatinous substance surrounding the umbilical vein and arteries? What does it do?
- ANS Wharton's Jelly
protects the cord from compression
What is the average measurement of the cord? - ANS approx. 55 cm
What are the two fetal membranes that surround the fetus throughout pregnancy? and which
one is the inner and outer layer? - ANS 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? - ANS 10-12 weeks
What does the amniotic fluid consist of? - ANS 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? - ANS oligohydramnios
associated with fetal renal anomalies and growth restriction
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
