Features of Fetal Anatomy Pertinent to Birth

Question 1

What is the most important part of the fetal anatomy?

Answer 1

The skull

Question 2

Why is the fetal skull so important to understand?

Answer 2

It is the most ossified and least compressible region of the term baby’s skeletal structure, making the size and position of the head the most critical factor regarding ease or difficulty baby will encounter through the birth canal

Question 3

What are the three regions of the fetal skull

Answer 3

The face,
The vault,
and the base

Question 4

What are the clinically relevant facial features

Answer 4

mentum or chin, mouth, nasion or bridge (root) of the nose

Question 5

The face extends from

Answer 5

the bridge for the nose to the junction of the chin and neck

Question 6

What are important facial markers for a breech birth when the nape of the neck is not visible due to maternal positioning

Answer 6

the lower jaw line (inferior border of the mandible) and mentum