Question 1

The longest and final stage of prenatal development is the_________ stage.

Accepted Answer

The fetal stage is the longest and final stage of prenatal development, lasting from the ninth week after conception until birth.

Question 2

Regina has just experienced some movements and her nurse-midwife has helped her hear the heartbeat. Regina's offspring is in which of the following stages of prenatal development?

Accepted Answer

The fetal stage is when movements can be felt and the heartbeat can be heard, typically starting from the 9th week of pregnancy until birth.

Question 3

Viability is defined as the age at which a fetus can survive on its own outside the womb. On the average this is at_________ weeks.

Accepted Answer

Viability is generally considered to be around 24 weeks of gestation, as this is the point at which a fetus has a reasonable chance of survival outside the womb with medical assistance.

Question 4

Caleb was delivered at 22 weeks. Although the neonatal intensive care unit was heroic in their efforts, Caleb died one week later. His death was most likely due to lack of immaturity of the

Accepted Answer

The lungs are often the most critical organ in premature infants, especially those born before 24 weeks, as they are not fully developed and lack surfactant, leading to respiratory distress and complications.

Question 5

Prenatal brain development is most dramatic in the fetal period. The number of neurons formed increases dramatically. This occurs between the 10th and 18th weeks and is called

Accepted Answer

Neuronal proliferation refers to the rapid increase in the number of neurons, which occurs during the fetal period, particularly between the 10th and 18th weeks of gestation.

Question 6

In order for the brain to function properly there must be sufficient number of neurons and they must be in the correct location. The neurons move to their place during the 13th to 21st weeks. This process is called

Accepted Answer

Neuronal migration is the process by which neurons move from their place of origin to their final position in the brain during development.

Question 7

For electrical chemical transmissions within the brain_________, must be formed to connect the axons and dendrites of one neuron to the next.

Accepted Answer

Synapses are the structures that allow neurons to pass electrical or chemical signals to other neurons, connecting axons and dendrites.

Question 8

One sex difference reliably found in prenatal and postnatal development is

Accepted Answer

Males are generally more physically active than females during both prenatal and postnatal development.

Question 9

Research on the behavioral capabilities of fetuses has increased dramatically in the past several years. Findings from a number of studies indicate that

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that by 32 weeks, fetuses can demonstrate learning capabilities, such as habituation to repeated stimuli, indicating more advanced behavioral capabilities than just reflexive responses.

Question 10

Exposure to teratogens is most damaging during

Accepted Answer

Organogenesis is the period when the organs are forming, making it the most critical time for teratogen exposure to cause significant developmental issues.

Question 11

The most important variable in the determination of the extent of harm a teratogen can cause to an organ or system depends upon the

Accepted Answer

The timing of exposure is crucial because different organs and systems develop at different stages of pregnancy, and exposure during critical periods of development can lead to more significant harm.

Question 12

Organ development is most open to exposure from teratogens during the embryonic and fetal periods. Therefore, these can be called _________periods for teratogen exposure.

Accepted Answer

The term "critical periods" refers to specific times during development when an organism is particularly sensitive to environmental influences, such as teratogens, which can cause significant developmental changes or defects.

Question 13

Researchers have found it difficult to decipher the effects of individual drugs on prenatal development. Women may use more than one drug, have poor nutritional habits and lack good prenatal care. In additional, there are ethical constraints on the types of research that can be conducted. Therefore, information on the effects of drugs on prenatal development is

Accepted Answer

The information is correlational because researchers cannot ethically conduct experiments on pregnant women, so they rely on observational studies that identify associations rather than causations.

Question 14

Erin is a full half pound smaller than the other children in the hospital nursery. Research has documented that low birth is highly likely due to the use of _________by the fetus' mother.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that maternal use of tobacco during pregnancy is strongly associated with low birth weight in newborns.

Question 15

Joseph is smaller than his classmates. He has a flattened nose and heart defects. His IQ score indicates mild retardation. Joseph most likely has been diagnosed with

Accepted Answer

Joseph's symptoms, including being smaller than his classmates, having a flattened nose, heart defects, and mild intellectual disability, are characteristic of fetal alcohol syndrome, which results from alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Question 16

Based on contemporary research, which of the following advice is given by competent providers of health care to women who are pregnant?

Accepted Answer

Consuming alcohol or drugs during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus, leading to complications such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or birth defects. Therefore, healthcare providers advise against their use.

Question 17

Alicia is infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). When she consults with her midwife she is told that she should_________ as this is the most effective method of preventing the transmission of the virus to her fetus.

Accepted Answer

Taking AZT (zidovudine) is an antiretroviral medication that significantly reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Question 18

Brain stunting, a condition of decreased weight and volume and reduced neural connections, is most likely caused by

Accepted Answer

Severe malnutrition can lead to brain stunting as it deprives the brain of essential nutrients needed for growth and development, affecting weight, volume, and neural connections.

Question 19

Based on findings comparing women across the reproductive continuum, the best age for conceiving and delivering children is

Accepted Answer

The age range of 21-30 is generally considered optimal for conceiving and delivering children due to peak fertility and lower risks of pregnancy-related complications compared to older age groups.

Question 20

A prenatal assessment technique which permits surgically correction of certain problems is

Accepted Answer

Fetoscopy is a prenatal assessment technique that allows for direct visualization of the fetus and can be used for surgical interventions to correct certain fetal abnormalities.

Quiz 3: Prenatal Development and Birth