Question 1

In Germany in the 1950s, the effects of teratogens gained widespread attention when pregnant women who took ____ to help them sleep gave birth to babies with deformations of their heads, legs, hands, and/or fingers. Over 7,000 babies were harmed by this drug before it was removed from the market.

Accepted Answer

Thalidomide was a drug commonly prescribed to pregnant women in the 1950s to help with morning sickness and insomnia. However, it was later discovered that the drug was a teratogen, meaning it caused birth defects in the babies of women who took it during pregnancy. Over 7,000 babies were affected before the drug was removed from the market.

Question 2

Marsha's doctor informs her that her child is just entering the longest period of prenatal development. About how long has Marsha been carrying her unborn child?

Accepted Answer

The longest period of prenatal development is the fetal stage, which begins at about 9 weeks after conception and continues until birth.

Question 3

Your authors point out that teenage women have a greater chance of having problems during their pregnancy, labor, and delivery than pregnant women in their 20s. They suggest that this is MAINLY because

Accepted Answer

The authors point out that teenage women have a greater chance of having problems during their pregnancy, labor, and delivery mainly because pregnant teenagers are more likely to be economically disadvantaged and lack good prenatal care. This can result in poor nutrition, inadequate monitoring, and inadequate medical attention, all of which can contribute to a higher risk for complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The other options (B, C, and D) are also factors that can contribute to pregnancy complications, but they are not the MAIN reason why teenage women have a greater chance of having problems during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Question 4

Whose mother most likely took thalidomide while pregnant because she was unaware its potential to harm her baby?

Accepted Answer

Thalidomide was known to cause severe limb malformations, which is consistent with the symptoms described for Martin. The other conditions listed are not typically associated with thalidomide exposure.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of general risk factors identified by scientists for pregnant women and their babies?

Accepted Answer

Drugs are considered a specific risk factor rather than a general risk factor for pregnant women and their babies. The general risk factors typically include nutrition, the mother's age, and stress.

Question 6

Why is it that 22 weeks is considered the earliest "age of viability" for an unborn child?

Accepted Answer

At 22 weeks, the unborn child's systems, such as their respiratory and nervous systems, have developed sufficiently to potentially sustain life outside of the mother's body. This is why it is considered the earliest "age of viability."

Question 7

Alissa is a 41-year-old, married, professional woman who has just found out that she is pregnant with her third child. According to your textbook, which of the following conditions is her baby at higher risk of due to Alissa's age?

Accepted Answer

As a woman ages, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome increases. The risk of Phenylketonuria, ADHD, and neurofibromatosis are not significantly impacted by maternal age.

Question 8

A pregnant woman not getting enough healthy food, vitamins, and nutrients may put her baby at risk for all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A pregnant woman not getting enough healthy food, vitamins, and nutrients may put her baby at risk for premature birth, effects to the child's nervous system, and vulnerability to illness, but not increased risk of later life anorexia.

Question 9

Maternal stress is most likely to negatively impact a developing embryo/fetus when that stress is

Accepted Answer

Prolonged and extreme maternal stress has been linked to negative impacts on the developing embryo/fetus, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental delays. Intermittent stress may also have negative impacts, but they are less understood and may depend on timing and duration. Moderate stress may even have some positive effects, such as increased fetal growth and improved cognitive development.

Question 10

In general, pregnancies are most likely to proceed normally when the mother is between the ages of 20 and ____ years.

Accepted Answer

Pregnancies are most likely to proceed normally when the mother is between the ages of 20 and 35 years, as risks for complications generally increase after age 35.

Question 11

Which of the following types of sensory input are most salient to a fetus?

Accepted Answer

Auditory input is most salient to a fetus because the auditory system is functional from about 26 weeks of gestation, while the other sensory systems continue to develop after birth. Additionally, the fetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which enhances the transmission of sound waves, allowing the fetus to hear sounds from the mother's body and external environment.

Question 12

Which of the following describes one of the reasons why stress hormones that are elevated in women who are highly anxious during pregnancy can negatively impact the baby?

Accepted Answer

Elevated stress hormones can cause constriction of blood vessels, including those in the placenta, which reduces the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus, potentially leading to negative developmental outcomes.

Question 13

Mel is at the obstetrician's office with his girlfriend Denise, who is pregnant with their child. They have just started the ninth week of the pregnancy, and the doctor explains to them that the unborn child's brain has developed distinct structures and is already beginning to regulate certain body functions. Based on what you know about prenatal development, you know that the period of the ____ has just begun.

Accepted Answer

The fetal period begins in the ninth week of pregnancy and is characterized by the development of distinct structures in the brain and the beginning of the regulation of body functions.

Question 14

Young Marvin, just a few months of age, is growing at a slower rate than would be expected for his age. He has heart problems and a slightly misshapen face, and is often very fussy and difficult to soothe. Which of the following substances did his mother likely ingest on a regular basis during her pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause growth and developmental delays, heart defects, and facial abnormalities. The other substances listed can also have negative effects on fetal development, but their specific effects may not match Young Marvin's symptoms.

Question 15

According to the weatherman on the local news, the outside temperature today will reach 102 degrees, with a possible heat index of 110 degrees. Thankfully for Quanetta, who is pregnant with her second child, the ________ will maintain a constant temperature for her unborn baby.

Accepted Answer

The amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus in the womb, maintains a constant and comfortable temperature for the developing baby regardless of the outside temperature. The uterus, umbilical cord, and placenta also play crucial roles in supporting the developing fetus, but they do not directly regulate the baby's temperature.

Question 16

The age of ____ is defined as the age at which a fetus can survive if it must be born because most of its bodily systems function adequately. It typically occurs 22 to 28 weeks into the pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

Viability is the term used to describe the age at which a fetus can survive outside the womb if it must be born. This usually happens 22 to 28 weeks into the pregnancy, when most of the major bodily systems have developed adequately to sustain life.

Question 17

Charlotte has just found out that she is pregnant, and she is thrilled about the news. She is concerned, however, because although she knows that her weight and body will change over the next several months, she wants those changes to be healthy. Which of the following advice should you give?

Accepted Answer

Option B is the most appropriate advice as during pregnancy, a woman's calorie requirement increases by 10% to 20% to support the growth and development of the baby. However, it is important to choose nutrient-dense foods to meet these additional calorie requirements instead of just consuming more calories. Option A is incorrect because excessive weight gain during pregnancy can have negative health consequences for both the mother and baby. Option C is also incorrect because it is not true that a pregnant woman should eat twice as much as normal. Option D is incorrect because even if a woman takes prenatal vitamins, she still needs to eat a balanced and healthy diet to support optimal fetal growth and development.

Question 18

Any agent that interferes with normal prenatal development is a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

Teratogen is a substance, organism or physical agent that can cause malformations or functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or fetus.

Question 19

The ____ is a structure that contains veins and arteries and connects a developing child to the placenta.

Accepted Answer

The structure being described is the umbilical cord. The amnion is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects the developing fetus. The germ disc and blastocyst are early stages in embryonic development and do not contain any structures resembling a umbilical cord.

Question 20

Of the three prenatal stages of development which is by far the longest?

Accepted Answer

The period of the fetus is by far the longest of the three prenatal stages of development, lasting from about 9 weeks after conception until birth. The period of the zygote and embryo are relatively shorter, lasting only a few weeks each.

Quiz 2: Biological Foundations: Heredity, Prenatal Development, and Birth.