Deck 7: Conception and Fetal Development

Question 1

At her first prenatal visit, the patient states, "I'm 5 weeks' pregnant now and I would like to hear my baby's heartbeat today." How should the nurse respond?
1) Anticipate that the patient will be scheduled for Doppler ultrasound.
2) Prepare to assist with auscultation of the fetal heartbeat using a fetoscope.
3) Explain to the patient that the fetal heartbeat is not yet detectable at 5 weeks' gestation.
4) Explain to the patient that the fetal heart does not begin to beat until approximately 7 weeks' gestation.

Answer 1

3

Question 2

The nurse is conducting an early pregnancy class for a group of pregnant women. Which statement indicates a need for further education about the placenta?
1) "It develops and grows larger until about 20 weeks' gestation."
2) "It floats in the amniotic sac and filters waste products from the fetus."
3) "It creates hormones and enzymes that are necessary during pregnancy."
4) "It ages and becomes less permeable during the last month of pregnancy."

Answer 2

2

Question 3

A pregnant patient asks about the differences between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Which should the nurse include during this teaching?
1) Dizygotic twins share one placenta and one chorion.
2) Monozygotic twins are also referred to as "fraternal" twins.
3) Dizygotic twinning occurs less frequently than does monozygotic twinning.
4) Monozygotic twins originate from division of the fertilized ovum at different stages.

Answer 3

4

Question 4

Which statement by a patient pregnant with twins would indicate that teaching was effective?
1) "Identical twins can be the same or different sex."
2) "Identical twins occur more frequently than fraternal twins."
3) "Congenital abnormalities are more prevalent in identical twins."
4) "Because of their birth relationship, fraternal twins are more similar to each other than if they had been born singly."

Question 5

The nurse has completed a presentation on reproduction. Which participant's statement indicates that teaching has been successful?
1) "Ova separate into two unequally sized cells."
2) "A male is born with all the sperm he will ever produce."
3) "Females create new ova throughout their reproductive life."
4) "Each primary spermatocyte divides into four haploid cells."

Question 6

A young woman claims that contraception is not needed because she avoids intercourse on the day of ovulation. How should the nurse instruct this patient?
1) Sperm survive 48 to 72 hours in the female reproductive tract.
2) After ovulation, ova are considered fertile for about 72 to 96 hours.
3) Sperm are believed to be healthy and highly fertile for at least 5 days.
4) Refraining from intercourse on the day of ovulation will effectively prevent pregnancy.

Question 7

The nurse instructs a patient about conception and fetal development. Which patient statement indicates understanding about transportation time of the zygote through the fallopian tube and into the cavity of the uterus?
1) "It will take 8 days for the egg to reach the uterus."
2) "It will take at least 3 days for the egg to reach the uterus."
3) "It will take 18 hours for the fertilized egg to implant in the uterus."
4) "It will only take 12 hours for the egg to go through the fallopian tube."

Question 8

If only a small volume of sperm is discharged into the vagina, an insufficient amount of enzymes might be released when sperm encounters the ovum. What would be the result for pregnancy?
1) The block to polyspermy (cortical reaction) would not occur.
2) The fertilized ovum would be unable to implant in the uterus.
3) Sperm would be unable to penetrate the zona pellucida of the ovum.
4) Peristalsis of the fallopian tube would decrease, making it difficult for the ovum to enter the uterus.

Question 9

A patient who has experienced a fetal death in utero at 20 weeks asks what her baby will look like when it is delivered. How should the nurse respond to this patient?
1) "The genitals of the baby will be ambiguous."
2) "Your baby will be covered in fine hair called lanugo."
3) "Your child will have arm and leg buds, but not fully formed limbs."
4) "A white, cheesy substance called vernix caseosa will be on the skin."

Question 10

The nurse is creating a teaching poster for pregnant mothers. Which description of fetal development should the nurse include?
1) Most organs are formed by 8 weeks after fertilization.
2) The embryonic stage is from fertilization until 5 months.
3) Four layers of cells form after the embryo is at the ball stage.
4) After fertilization, the cells only become larger for several weeks.

Question 11

A pregnant client who restricted the intake of fat, protein, and sugar to prevent a large weight gain delivers a small-for-gestational-age fetus. What long-term health problems is this child at risk for developing as an adult? Select all that apply.
1) Arthritis
2) Diabetes
3) Hypertension
4) Cystic fibrosis
5) Coronary heart disease

Question 12

The nurse is reviewing the embryonic primary germ layers with a group of students. Which structures should the nurse identify as being formed from the mesoderm? Select all that apply.
1) Nails
2) Liver
3) Spleen
4) Muscles
5) Skeleton

Question 13

After teaching a class about the female reproductive system, the nurse asks the attendees to describe the process of meiosis. Which student response suggests successful comprehension of the material?
1) "At the time of ovulation, the first meiotic division begins."
2) "At the time of puberty, the second meiotic division begins."
3) "Completion of the first meiotic division produces three polar bodies and one primary oocyte."
4) "Completion of the second meiotic division results in formation of three polar bodies and one ovum."

Question 14

The nurse is preparing a presentation about causes of fetal organ malformation in the first trimester. What prenatal influences on the intrauterine environment should be included in this teaching? Select all that apply.
1) The use of drugs
2) Maternal nutrition
3) The use of saunas or hot tubs
4) Age of the mother at conception
5) The quality of the sperm or ovum

Question 15

The nurse is preparing information about reproduction for high school students. What should the nurse include about the production of sperm? Select all that apply.
1) Diploid cells are formed.
2) Sperm cells develop through meiotic division.
3) Four spermatids are formed during the second meiotic division.
4) Spermatocytes contain either a double-structured X or Y sex chromosome.
5) Two secondary spermatocytes contain 22 double-structured autosomal chromosomes.

Question 16

The nurse is explaining the difference between meiosis and mitosis. Which statements should the nurse include? Select all that apply.
1) Mitosis occurs in most of the cells of the body.
2) Meiotic division leads to cells that halve the original genetic material.
3) Meiosis is the division of a cell into two exact copies of the original cell.
4) Meiosis is the process by which gametes, or the sperm and ova, are formed.
5) Mitosis is splitting one cell into two, each with half the chromosomes of the original cell.

Question 17

A patient at 18 weeks' gestation thinks she might have been exposed to a toxin at work that could affect fetal development and asks what organs might be affected at this point in the pregnancy. How should the nurse respond to this patient?
1) "The brain is developing now and could be affected."
2) "Because you are in the second trimester, there is no danger."
3) "It's best to not worry about possible problems with your baby."
4) "The internal organs like the heart and lungs could be impacted."

Question 18

The nurse is reviewing the structures of the developing fetus with a group of pregnant clients. What should the nurse emphasize about the function of the placenta? Select all that apply.
1) It produces hormones.
2) It produces glycogen, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
3) It maintains fetal respiration, nutrition, and excretion.
4) It provides a circulatory pathway from the chorionic villi to the embryo.
5) It contains a specialized mucoid connective tissue known as Wharton jelly.

Question 19

The nurse is discussing an embryonic structure that forms red blood cells until the liver takes over the process in the developing fetus. Place an X on the diagram to identify the structure that the nurse is discussing.Shape_

Question 20

The nurse is caring for a patient who is pregnant with twins. Which statement indicates the patient needs additional information?
1) "It is rare for twins to both be within the same amniotic sac."
2) "Because both of my twins are boys, I know that they are identical."
3) "If I have one boy and one girl, I will know they came from two eggs."
4) "If my twins came from one fertilized egg that split, they are identical."