Midwifery Exam Practice Questions and Answers Fall with
complete solution
What is the first stage of the menstrual cycle (that lasts 4-7 days) known as?
Menstrual Cycle
What is the second stage of the menstrual cycle (lasting 8-13 days) known as?
Follicular Phase
What is the third stage of the menstrual cycle, occurring at day 14, known as?
Ovulatory Phase
What is the final stage of the menstrual cycle known as?
Luteal Phase
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.
Define Ovulation
A period of heightened hormones where a dominant follicle releases an egg into a
Fallopian tube.
Which hormone is responsible for ovulation?
LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
What happens during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen decreases, progesterone increases due to the corpus luteum.
What happens during the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen and progesterone decrease and the endometrial lining is shed.
How long is an egg viable for following ovulation?
1 day
What happens if an egg is not fertilised?
Progesterone decreases, corpus luteum is reabsorbed and FSH causes new follicles to
start maturing.
Define capacitation
The protective covering of the acrosome of the sperm is removed.
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
How many chromosomes does a zygote contain?
46, in 23 homologous pairs
How many cells does the merula have?
8 to 16
How many cells does the blastocyst have?
16 to 32
How many days after ovulation can implantation occur?
6 to 10 days
Define decidualisation
Progesterone increases, creating a hospitable environment for the developing fetus.
What are trophoblasts?
Cells on the outer layer of the blastocyst
, What are integrins?
Cell adhesion molecules that work in implantation.
What is the chorion?
Fetal part of placenta made out of trophoblast cells
Which hormone causes skin pigmentation in pregnancy?
Pituitary melanin-stimulating hormone
What is the linea nigra?
Abdominal midline
What is striae gravidarum?
Stretch marks
What is choloasma?
'Mask of pregnancy' which is a tan or dark skin discoloration.
What hormones cause SPD?
Increased relaxin and progesterone
What causes backache in pregnancy?
Increased progesterone and relaxin that relaxes the sacroiliac joint.
How does the vagina change in pregnancy?
Increased vascularity resulting in purple/red discoloration
What is Jacquemier's sign of pregnancy?
Vagina and cervix may appear purple/blue due to increased blood supply
What is Osiander's sign of pregnancy?
Pulse located in the lateral vaginal fornix which indicates pregnancy
What is the function of the cervical mucus plug?
Protect the fetus from any ascending infections
What is an ectropion?
Purple/red discoloration of the cervix
What causes vaginal discharge in pregnancy?
Shedding of mucosal cells from the cervix or uterus
What is candida albicans?
Thrush or a yeast infection
How does the mouth change in pregnancy?
Increased gum vascularity, increased salivation resulting in bleeding gums or gingivitis.
How does the stomach change in pregnancy?
Cardiac sphincter relaxes caused by progesterone or heartburn
How does the thyroid gland change in pregnancy?
Increased TSH or thyroxine resulting in enlargement, or a goitre, thought to be related
to nausea and vomiting.
Which gland produces prolactin?
Anterior pituitary gland
What gland produces oxytocin?
Posterior pituitary or hypothalamus
Define puerperium
Starts after the delivery of the placenta and membranes and continues for 6 weeks
Define involution
Process by which the uterus returns to its normal size, tone and position
Define ischaemia
complete solution
What is the first stage of the menstrual cycle (that lasts 4-7 days) known as?
Menstrual Cycle
What is the second stage of the menstrual cycle (lasting 8-13 days) known as?
Follicular Phase
What is the third stage of the menstrual cycle, occurring at day 14, known as?
Ovulatory Phase
What is the final stage of the menstrual cycle known as?
Luteal Phase
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.
Define Ovulation
A period of heightened hormones where a dominant follicle releases an egg into a
Fallopian tube.
Which hormone is responsible for ovulation?
LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
What happens during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen decreases, progesterone increases due to the corpus luteum.
What happens during the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen and progesterone decrease and the endometrial lining is shed.
How long is an egg viable for following ovulation?
1 day
What happens if an egg is not fertilised?
Progesterone decreases, corpus luteum is reabsorbed and FSH causes new follicles to
start maturing.
Define capacitation
The protective covering of the acrosome of the sperm is removed.
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
How many chromosomes does a zygote contain?
46, in 23 homologous pairs
How many cells does the merula have?
8 to 16
How many cells does the blastocyst have?
16 to 32
How many days after ovulation can implantation occur?
6 to 10 days
Define decidualisation
Progesterone increases, creating a hospitable environment for the developing fetus.
What are trophoblasts?
Cells on the outer layer of the blastocyst
, What are integrins?
Cell adhesion molecules that work in implantation.
What is the chorion?
Fetal part of placenta made out of trophoblast cells
Which hormone causes skin pigmentation in pregnancy?
Pituitary melanin-stimulating hormone
What is the linea nigra?
Abdominal midline
What is striae gravidarum?
Stretch marks
What is choloasma?
'Mask of pregnancy' which is a tan or dark skin discoloration.
What hormones cause SPD?
Increased relaxin and progesterone
What causes backache in pregnancy?
Increased progesterone and relaxin that relaxes the sacroiliac joint.
How does the vagina change in pregnancy?
Increased vascularity resulting in purple/red discoloration
What is Jacquemier's sign of pregnancy?
Vagina and cervix may appear purple/blue due to increased blood supply
What is Osiander's sign of pregnancy?
Pulse located in the lateral vaginal fornix which indicates pregnancy
What is the function of the cervical mucus plug?
Protect the fetus from any ascending infections
What is an ectropion?
Purple/red discoloration of the cervix
What causes vaginal discharge in pregnancy?
Shedding of mucosal cells from the cervix or uterus
What is candida albicans?
Thrush or a yeast infection
How does the mouth change in pregnancy?
Increased gum vascularity, increased salivation resulting in bleeding gums or gingivitis.
How does the stomach change in pregnancy?
Cardiac sphincter relaxes caused by progesterone or heartburn
How does the thyroid gland change in pregnancy?
Increased TSH or thyroxine resulting in enlargement, or a goitre, thought to be related
to nausea and vomiting.
Which gland produces prolactin?
Anterior pituitary gland
What gland produces oxytocin?
Posterior pituitary or hypothalamus
Define puerperium
Starts after the delivery of the placenta and membranes and continues for 6 weeks
Define involution
Process by which the uterus returns to its normal size, tone and position
Define ischaemia
