Physiology of Pregnancy

Question 1

Major morphological abnormalities happen what time?

Answer 1

embryonic: weeks 3-8

Question 2

Preg is 40 weeks from? 38 weeks from?

Answer 2

40 weeks from last menstrual period

38 weeks from fertilisation

Question 3

signs of early preg?

Answer 3

morning sickness
missed period
increase breast size
fatigue
darkening areolae

Question 4

biochem determiniation of preg?

Answer 4

blood and urine hCG

Question 5

what becomes placenta?

Answer 5

trophoblast

Question 6

what surrounds amniotic fluid?

Answer 6

amnion

Question 7

what surrounds the amnion?

Answer 7

Chorion

Question 8

how are the vessels setup in the placenta?

Answer 8

Chorionic villi are bathes in maternal blood like ‘blood lakes’

Question 9

purpose of chorionic villi/blood lake structure?

Answer 9

prevent vasoactive substances from affecting fetal blood flow as endothelium is not intact

Question 10

Umbilical vein vs. artery carries what?

Answer 10

Um. Vein: oxygenated blood

Um. Artery: deoxygenated blood

Question 11

hPL is?

Answer 11

Human placental lactogen: breast development/metabolics

Question 12

Monozygotic twins with the egg that splits early vs. late?

Answer 12

early: separate placenta likely
late: shared placenta likely

Question 13

what happens to cervix in parturition?

Answer 13

softening

Question 14

labour has rhythmic contractions of?

Answer 14

myometrium

Question 15

labour has what kind of feedback?

Answer 15

positive via oxytocin

Question 16

cervix dilates how much in labour?

Answer 16

10cm

Question 17

why placenta release?

Answer 17

prevent maternal bleeding

Question 18

what helps trigger the parturition positive feedback?

Answer 18

cervical stretch>uterine contractions»oxytocin»prostaglandins» more contractions

Question 19

in preg what stims breast development?

Answer 19

estrogen, GH, cortisol stim futher gland development

Question 20

what happens in late preg to breasts?

Answer 20

progesterone stims conversion of ducts to secretory epithelium

Question 21

what structure helps with milk ejection?

Answer 21

myoepithelial cells in mammary gland lobules

Question 22

before birth, what inhibits lactation?

Answer 22

1. PIH (prolactin inhibiting hormone)

2. high sex steroid levels

Question 23

what allow lactation post birth?

Answer 23

high prolactin and low estrogen

Question 24

what does suckling do for lactation?

Answer 24

let-down reflex via inhibit PIH, oxytocin stims ejection

Question 25

what does suckling do to ovarian cycle?

Answer 25

stops it via inhibiting GnRH

Question 26

lactation pure physiological?

Answer 26

sound of child’s cry could release oxytocin

Question 27

maternal heart reaction to preg?

Answer 27

increase SV by 10%, HR 10-15%

Question 28

TPR in preg? How?

Answer 28

lower unless pre-eclampsia

caused by NO

Question 29

how does haematocrit and blood volume look in preg?

Answer 29

plasma volume increases faster than blood volume so haematocrit falls

Question 30

BV in preg by how much?

Answer 30

~1250ml by 30 weeks

Question 31

cervix mucus plug in delivery?

Answer 31

expelled

Question 32

why do preg women’s areola’s darken?

Answer 32

more melanocyte stimming hormone at 2/12

Question 33

blood flow to skin in preg?

Answer 33

increased so warm hands