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Question 1
Correct
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During pregnancy, maternal oestrogen levels increase markedly. Most of this oestrogen is produced by the:
Your Answer: Placenta
Explanation:The placenta does not have all the necessary enzymes to make oestrogens from cholesterol, or even progesterone. Human trophoblast lack 17-hydroxylase and therefore cannot convert C21-steroids to C19-steroids, the immediate precursors of oestrogen. To bypass this deficit, dehydroisoandrosterone sulphate (DHA) from the fetal adrenal is converted to estradiol-17ί by trophoblasts. In its key location as a way station between mother and foetus, placenta can use precursors from either mother or foetus to circumvent its own deficiencies in enzyme activities.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 2
Correct
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All the following are possible causes of polyhydramnios, EXCEPT:
Your Answer: IUGR
Explanation:An underlying disease is only found in 17 % of cases in mild polyhydramnios. In contrast, an underlying disease is detected in 91 % of cases in moderate to severe polyhydramnios. The literature lists the following potential aetiologies: fetal malformations and genetic anomalies (8–45 %), maternal diabetes mellitus (5–26 %), multiple pregnancies (8–10 %), fetal anaemia (1–11 %), other causes, e.g. viral infections, Bartter syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, maternal hypercalcemia. Viral infections which can lead to polyhydramnios include parvovirus B19, rubella, and cytomegalovirus. Other infections, e.g. toxoplasmosis and syphilis, can also cause polyhydramnios.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 3
Correct
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Which of the following statements is true regarding renal blood flow in pregnancy?
Your Answer: Increases by approximately 50%
Explanation:Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) rises immediately after conception and increases by about 50 per cent overall, reaching its maximum at the end of the first trimester. GFR then falls by about 20 per cent in the third trimester, returning to pre-pregnancy levels within 12 weeks of delivery.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 4
Correct
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Which of the following pubertal events is NOT mediated by gonadal oestrogen production?
Your Answer: Pubic hair growth
Explanation:The role of androgens in the female includes acting as precursors for oestrogen production, anabolic effects, stimulation of axillary and pubic hair growth, sebum production, stimulation of bone formation, and stimulation of erythropoietin production in the kidneys.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 5
Correct
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In a pregnant lady with polyhydramnios, the cause could be:
Your Answer: Foetus with oesophageal-atresia
Explanation:An underlying disease is only found in 17 % of cases in mild polyhydramnios. In contrast, an underlying disease is detected in 91 % of cases in moderate to severe polyhydramnios. The literature lists the following potential aetiologies: fetal malformations and genetic anomalies (8–45 %), maternal diabetes mellitus (5–26 %), multiple pregnancies (8–10 %), fetal anaemia (1–11 %), other causes, e.g. viral infections, Bartter syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, maternal hypercalcemia. Viral infections which can lead to polyhydramnios include parvovirus B19, rubella, and cytomegalovirus. Other infections, e.g. toxoplasmosis and syphilis, can also cause polyhydramnios.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 6
Correct
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According to the UK food standards agency which of the following RDIs (recommended daily intake) is 3 times higher in pregnancy than the non-pregnant state?
Your Answer: Folic Acid
Explanation:Folic Acid should be increased in diet of a pregnant women. Deficiency will lead to neural tube defects i.e. spina bifida.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 7
Incorrect
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Regarding electronic fetal monitoring, which one of the following statements is true?
Your Answer: Has high specificity but low sensitivity
Correct Answer: Has low specificity but high sensitivity
Explanation:There are different ways of monitoring fetal heart rate during pregnancy. It can be done by just auscultation or by electronic fetal heart rate monitoring which is done with the help of an ultrasound machine and has a low specificity but high sensitivity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 8
Incorrect
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Examination of endometrial tissue obtained from a biopsy reveals simple columnar epithelium with no sub-nuclear vacuoles. The stroma is oedematous, & a tortuous gland contains secretions. These findings are consistent with which stage of the menstrual cycle?
Your Answer: Mid-proliferative
Correct Answer: Mid-secretory
Explanation:During mid secretory phase, the endometrium cells undergo distension, become more tortuous and are lined by columnar cells.
In the early proliferative phase, the glandular epithelium is cubo-columnar, while in the late proliferative phase, the glands increase in size, becoming tortuous and there is pseudostratification of the epithelium. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 9
Correct
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Which of the following would normally be expected to increase during pregnancy:
Your Answer: Thyroxin-binding globulin
Explanation:Thyroid function in pregnancy is altered in two ways; the circulating levels of the thyroid binding proteins are increased, resulting in an increase in the total circulating levels of thyroid hormones (but a slight fall in the free component).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 10
Correct
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Question 11
Incorrect
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We can detect the fetal heart beat by Sonography (transvaginal) at:
Your Answer: 5 weeks
Correct Answer: 6 weeks
Explanation:The earliest fetal heart rate detected transvaginally was at 6 weeks 0 days of gestation compared with 7 weeks 0 days transabdominally. The transvaginal Doppler method was also more successful in detecting the fetal heart rate in women with a retroverted uterus (p < or = 0.01).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 12
Correct
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The following ultrasonic measurements may be used to confirm or establish gestational age:
Your Answer: Crown rump length
Explanation:Fetal ultrasound scanning is considered an essential part of routine antenatal care with first trimester scans recommended for confirming viability, accurate estimation of gestational age and determining the number of foetuses. Fetal crown-rump length (CRL) is measured in early pregnancy primarily to determine the gestation age (GA) of a foetus and is most reliable between 9+0 to 13+6 weeks’ gestation, but not beyond.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 13
Incorrect
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What is the typical volume increase of a non-pregnant uterus to term uterus?
Your Answer: 40ml to 1200ml
Correct Answer: 10ml to 5000ml
Explanation:Uterine blood flow increases 40-fold to approximately 700 mL/min at term. The uterus is 50–60 g with a volume of approximately 10ml prior to pregnancy and 1000 – 1200 g with a volume of 5000ml by term.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 14
Correct
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During the inflammatory phase of wound healing what is the predominant cell type found in the wound during days 3-4?
Your Answer: Macrophages
Explanation:PMNs phagocytise debris and kill bacteria via free radicals (AKA respiratory burst). They also break down damaged tissue. PMNs typically undergo apoptosis after 48 hours. They are then engulfed and degraded by macrophages. Macrophages therefore become the predominant cell type in the wound on days 3-4.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 15
Incorrect
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Regarding the renal tract during pregnancy, the following are true, EXCEPT:
Your Answer: The right side is affected more then the left side
Correct Answer: The bladder tone increases
Explanation:Incontinence in women is typically related to dysfunction of the bladder or pelvic floor muscles, with such dysfunction often arising during pregnancy or childbirth, or at the time of menopause.
A pregnant woman may experience an increase in the size of the kidneys and ureter due to the increased blood volume and vasculature.
Later in pregnancy, the woman might develop physiological hydronephrosis and hydroureteronephrosis, which are normal.
There is an increase in glomerular filtration rate associated with an increase in creatinine clearance, protein, albumin excretion, and urinary glucose excretion.
There is also an increase in sodium retention from the renal tube so oedema and water retention is a common sign in pregnant women -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 16
Correct
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Maternal mortality rate is lowest in which age group?
Your Answer: 20 - 30
Explanation:The maternal mortality rate starts low and raises steeply after the age of 30 years. The lowest mortality rate recorded among women is between 19-30 years of age group.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 17
Correct
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Regarding blood volume in pregnancy which of the following statements is TRUE?
Your Answer: Blood volume slowly increases by 40-50%
Explanation:Maternal blood volume expands during pregnancy to allow adequate perfusion of vital organs, including the placenta and foetus, and to anticipate blood loss associated with delivery. The rapid expansion of blood volume begins at 6–8 weeks gestation and plateaus at 32–34 weeks gestation. While there is some increase in intracellular water, the most marked expansion occurs in extracellular fluid volume, especially circulating plasma volume. This expanded extracellular fluid volume accounts for between 8 and 10 kg of the average maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Overall, total body water increases from 6.5 to 8.5 L by the end of pregnancy.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 18
Correct
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If a sample of cervical mucus is taken on the 12th day of the menstrual cycle and examined under the microscope, what kind of findings would be observed?
Your Answer: A fern pattern characteristic of oestrogen
Explanation:Fern test looks for a specific fern like pattern of cervical mucus when observed under light microscope after the sample is dried. It occurs due to the presence of sodium chloride under oestrogen influence whereas progesterone opposes it.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 19
Correct
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Which one of the following statements regarding fetal blood pH is correct?
Your Answer: Can be measured during labour
Explanation:A sample for fetal blood pH can be taken during the labour. The mother should be lying in a left lateral position.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 20
Correct
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During normal pregnancy, a weight gain is anticipated. The average weight gain is approximately:
Your Answer: 10-15 kg
Explanation:Institute of Medicine Weight Gain Recommendations for Pregnancy: Recommends a gestational weight gain of 16.8–24.5 kg (37–54 lb) for women of normal weight, 14.1–22.7 kg (31–50 lb) for overweight women, and 11.3–19.1 kg (25–42 lb) for obese women.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 21
Correct
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Skin changes during pregnancy should include:
Your Answer: All of the options given
Explanation:Skin signs during pregnancy may include: dark spots on the breasts, nipples and inner thighs, melasma (chloasma), linea nigra, stretch marks, acne, spider telangiectasis and varicose veins.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 22
Correct
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In normal pregnancy, the value of β-hCG doubles every:
Your Answer: 2 days
Explanation:During early pregnancy, hCG can be detected in the maternal serum as early as 6 to 8 days after fertilization. hCG levels are dynamically increased and doubled every 48 h in most normal pregnancies, and this pattern is similar in both in vivo or in vitro (IVF) conceptions.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 23
Correct
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The β-hCG curve in maternal serum in a normal pregnancy peaks at:
Your Answer: 10 weeks of pregnancy
Explanation:During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, concentrations of hCG in the blood and urine usually double every 24 hours. Levels of the hormone typically peak at around 10 weeks, decline until 16 weeks, then remain constant.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 24
Incorrect
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Physiological changes in the reproductive system include:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: The uterus 1st enlarges by hyperplasia then by hypertrophy
Explanation:Although uterine growth during the first few weeks of pregnancy is accomplished by increased numbers of smooth muscle cells (i.e. hyperplasia) and a smaller contribution from increased cell size (i.e. hypertrophy), the predominant growth of the uterus during pregnancy is by way of stretch‐induced myometrial hypertrophy. This ongoing process of stretch‐induced tissue remodelling and smooth muscle hypertrophy is accompanied by the lack of uterine contractions during most of gestation to accommodate the developing foetus (phase 0 of parturition). Phase 1 of parturition represents myometrial activation. The final stages of pregnancy are characterized by increases in spontaneous low‐amplitude contractions that gradually increase in frequency, rhythmicity and strength, normally culminating in labour and delivery of the foetus at term (phase 2 of parturition).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 25
Incorrect
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Regarding cardiac examination during pregnancy which of the following findings should be considered pathological
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Diastolic murmur
Explanation:Diastolic murmurs should be considered pathological until proven otherwise. The following are common and typically benign findings in pregnancy: A third heart sound after mid-pregnancy. Systolic flow murmurs are common. Left axis deviation on ECG is common, Sagging ST segments and inversion or flattening of the T wave in lead III may also occur
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 26
Incorrect
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Which of the following factors is fetal nutrition dependant on?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: All of the options given
Explanation:Fetal nutrition is dependant upon multiple factors such as maternal nutritional state, quality of maternal diet, malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, metabolic rate of the mother or whether they suffer from malabsorption syndrome or other related conditions.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 27
Incorrect
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What kind of biochemical changes occur during the luteal phase of menstrual cycle?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: High progesterone levels
Explanation:Menstrual cycle can be divided into the follicular phase and luteal phase. In the luteal phase, there is an increase in progesterone secretion and LH levels are low. If the ova is fertilized, it is implanted in the endometrium. In case of failure in fertilization, there is gradual decrease in progesterone and LH levels.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 28
Incorrect
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In the absence of any gross pelvic abnormality, cephalopelvic disproportion can be correctly diagnosed by?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Trial of labour
Explanation:Cephalo-pelvic disproportion exists when the capacity of the pelvis is inadequate to allow the foetus to negotiate the birth canal. This may be due to a small pelvis, a nongynecoid pelvic formation, a large foetus, an unfavourable orientation of the foetus, or a combination of these factors. Diagnosis of CPD may be made when there is failure to progress, but not all cases of prolonged labour are the result of CPD. Use of ultrasound to measure the size of the foetus in the womb is controversial, as these methods are often inaccurate and may lead to unnecessary caesarean section; a trial of labour is often recommended even if size of the foetus is estimated to be large.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 29
Incorrect
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What is the typical weight of a term uterus?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: 1200g
Explanation:Uterine blood flow increases 40-fold to approximately 700 mL/min at term, with 80 per cent of the blood distributed to the intervillous spaces of the placentae, and 20 per cent to the uterine myometrium. Weight of the uterus increases from 50–60 g prior to pregnancy to 1000 g by term.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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Question 30
Incorrect
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CTG showing early decelerations is :
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: From increased vagal tone secondary to head compression
Explanation:Early decelerations: a result of increased vagal tone due to compression of the fetal head during contractions. Monitoring usually shows a symmetrical, gradual decrease and return to baseline of FHR, which is associated with a uterine contraction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
