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

A chorionic villus sample is tested cytogenetically and found to have trisomy 15. This is followed up with a normal amniocentesis. Which interpretation is drawn?

  1. The fetus likely has trisomy 15, and maternal cell contamination probably explains the normal amniocensis.

  2. The fetus will likely be normal, and confined placental mosaicism probably explains the abnormal CVS result.

  3. The fetus should be tested uniparental disomy of chromosome 15, given the risk of Prader -Willi or Angelman syndromes.

  4. The abnormal CVS is probably due to pseudomosaicism and the fetus is likely to be normal.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is possible that the conceptus had trisomy 15, and that disomy was restored by loss of one 15. This could have resulted in uniparental disomy, which would lead to Prader-Willi or Angelman syndrome.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the nearest meaning to the word in bold.

A female foetus was found lying near the hospital.

  1. puppy

  2. toddler

  3. infant

  4. unborn baby
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A foetus is an unborn offspring in the later stages of development, specifically from the eighth week after fertilization until birth. 'Unborn baby' is the most accurate synonym among the options. 'Puppy' refers to a young dog, 'toddler' is a young child who has just learned to walk, and 'infant' means a baby already born.

Multiple choice

A couple got blessed with a baby boy. But unfortunately, the baby fell victim of physiological jaundice. Which of the following is the major contributor to the development of physiological jaundice?

  1. Breastfeeding

  2. Decreased hepatic bilirubin excretion

  3. Immature hepatic enzymes

  4. Enterohepatic circulation

  5. Increased bilirubin production
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The major cause of physiological jaundice is increased bilirubin production due to increased haemoglobin levels at birth and a shortened red cell lifespan.

Multiple choice

In which stage of the pregnancy do the organs of the fetus predicate their specialized functions?

  1. Implantation

  2. Fetal

  3. Embryonic

  4. Germinal

  5. Prenatal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This period of development starts during the ninth week of pregnancy and lasts until birth. The early body systems and structures formed in the embryonic stage continue to develop. In this stage the neural tube develops into the brain and spinal cord. In this stage all the organs of the fetus predicate their specialized functions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is not related to viviparous?

  1. Fetus gets more embryonic care.

  2. Young one is protected inside an egg shell.

  3. Fetus is well protected.

  4. The fetus remains in the womb till the end of the gestation period.

  5. Child birth occurs at the end of gestation period.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The egg shell is seen in the case of oviparous animals, which lay eggs. As the egg comes through the oviduct, it is covered by a shell made of calcium carbonate. The young one hatches out of the incubated egg. The egg shell is absent in viviparous animals.

Multiple choice

Which of the following functions is NOT served by placenta for developing embryo?

  1. Respiration

  2. Immunity

  3. Excretion

  4. Nutrition

  5. Control and Co-ordination

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Placenta provides nutrition to the embryo and also removes waste material. Exchange of gases occurs through placenta. Placenta also provides certain antibodies for immunity. However, placenta has no role in controlling and coordinating embryo. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an event associated with the fetal circulation?

  1. The fetal heart rate is about double that of a healthy adult.

  2. All the blood present in the umbilical vein enter the left ventricle.

  3. Two of the embryo shunts close just after the parturition.

  4. Fetal blood pressure is higher than that of an adult.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is true that fetal heart rate is faster than an adult heart rate, which ranges from 100 -140 beats per minute. Changes in the fetal heart rate, which occur with contractions, form a pattern. Baby's heart rate increases with mother's movement and with uterine contractions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following events occurs during pregnancy?

  1. In a pregnant lady, the plasma hCG levels are the highest between weeks 8 and 10 of gestation.

  2. Placental progesterone secretion is the highest in the first 10 to 12 weeks of gestation.

  3. Blood flow to the kidneys decreases to maintain the pregnancy.

  4. Maternal respiratory rate increases for supplying oxygen to the developing embryo.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In a pregnant lady, the plasma hCG levels are the highest between weeks 8 and 10 of gestation as the hCG is secreted by the early embryo.

Multiple choice

Mrs. Bansal is pregnant and has undergone the medical test for estimating L: S ratio of amniotic fluid. The significance of this estimation lies in evaluating

  1. fetal heart rate

  2. fetal lung maturity

  3. fetal maturity

  4. fetal head size
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The L : S ratio was the first test to assess fetal lung maturity. Sufficient amniotic fluid is required for accurate assessment of fetal lung maturity. It is regarded as the best single assessment of fetal lung maturity.