Biology

Pregnancy and Childbirth

996 Questions

This hub covers essential biology questions on pregnancy, fetal development, and childbirth. Topics include the placenta, maternal physiology, and the stages of labor. These concepts are frequently tested in general science sections of various competitive examinations.

Placenta and fetal nutritionStages of laborMaternal immune systemPregnancy complications

Pregnancy and Childbirth Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about thalidomide is/are correct?

  1. It was widely used in Europe as a mild laxtive in the early 1960s.
  2. Its active enantiomer causes severe birth defects in humans.
  3. Its effect is most dangerous during the last trimester of pregnancy.
  4. It was often prescribed to alleviate nausea (morning sickness) that is common during pregnancy.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Only 3

  4. Only 4

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This statement is correct.

Multiple choice

Pisum sativum has

  1. marginal placentation

  2. parietal placentation

  3. axile placentation

  4. free central placentation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

marginal placentation

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not true about teenage pregnancy?

  1. Health problems occur in a mother and her child

  2. Mental agony of adolescents

  3. Health improves due to pregnancy

  4. The girl is not ready for responsibilities of motherhood
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Health does not improve due to teenage pregnancy.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most useful tool in the prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome for a baby with moderate encephalopathy secondary to hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)?

  1. Doppler assessment of the cerebral arteries

  2. Bedside amplitude integrated EEG

  3. MRI

  4. Neurological examination

  5. Cranial ultrasound
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The change that best predicts a bad outcome is abnormality in signal intensity in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) and basal ganglia with 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity, and positive predictive value of 100%.

Multiple choice

Mrs. Verma is seven months pregnant and is suffering from urinary tract infection. Which of the following options is false regarding urinary tract infection?

  1. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause.

  2. Lower urinary tract infection is a superficial infection.

  3. Can cause renal damage if it involves the kidney.

  4. Upper urinary tract infection are minimised during pregnancy.

  5. Causes white cells to occur in the urine.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The common causes of urinary tract infection are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Proteus species. Staphylococci are not common causes of urinary tract infection.

Multiple choice

Anita is in her third trimester of her second pregnancy. Adequate renal function and normal amniotic fluid production is NOT required in the developing fetus for which of the following functions?

  1. Providing space for growth and movement

  2. Protection against infection

  3. Maintenance of temperature

  4. Development of the respiratory system

  5. Excretion of waste products
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Urine production is the major contributor to amniotic fluid but in the fetus the placenta is the organ responsible for the removal of waste products.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following factors does not put a woman at increased risk of obstetric complications?

  1. Both extremes of maternal age.

  2. One previous Caesarean section.

  3. A history of subfertility, with use of fertility drugs or assisted conception.

  4. Family history of diabetes in a second-degree relative.

  5. Overdue pregnancy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

To be of significant risk of developing gestational diabetes, a first-degree relative of the patient should be affected by diabetes, i.e. sibling, mother, father.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is true of preterm labour in an obsessed woman?  

  1. Maternal chorioamnionitis during gestations is unlikely to initiate labour in an obsessed woman.

  2. Prolonged preterm rupture of membranes should be treated with oral erythromycin.

  3. If corticosteroids are given more than 48 hours before delivery then the beneficial effect on the infant's lungs is negligible.

  4. If there is fetal distress at 26 weeks, the foetus should be delivered by emergency lower segment caesarean section.

  5. Preterm delivery can be avoided if preterm labour is switched off by the use of tocolytics.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The ORACLE trial showed a benefit from administration of oral antibiotics. Each case should be assessed on its merits, as if the mother has frank sepsis it may be safer to deliver the baby immediately.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding parturition?

  1. As the uterus starts contracting, blood flow through the uterine artery is interrupted.

  2. During the delivery the fetal blood oxygen levels can be 4–6 kPa without causing brain damage.

  3. The fetal brain utilises ketones if the supply of glucose is interrupted by any reason.

  4. During the delivery the umbilical arterial pH is higher than the venous pH.

  5. Most babies are generally cyanosed at the time of birth.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The umbilical artery carries used blood away from the fetus and so the pH can never be higher than in the vein.

Multiple choice

Adequate renal function and normal amniotic fluid production is NOT required in the fetus for which of the following functions?    

  1. Providing space for growth and movement.

  2. Development of the respiratory system.

  3. Protection against infection.

  4. Maintenance of temperature.

  5. Excretion of waste products.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Urine production is the major contributor to amniotic fluid, but in the fetus the placenta is the organ responsible for the removal of waste products.