Which of the following is an example of positive feedback during labor?
A) the movement of the fetus toward the cervical canal
B) the pressure the unborn exerts on the cervix
C) the distortion of the myometrium stimulates oxytocin release
D) the dilation of the cervix followed by the rupture of the amnion
E) the ejection of the placenta at the end of the placental stage

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Positive feedback is a process in which a stimulus leads to a response that intensifies the original stimulus. In the case of labor, the contraction of the uterus (myometrium) leads to the stretching of the cervix, which stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin from the pituitary gland. Oxytocin then stimulates the myometrium to contract even more, leading to more cervical stretching and more oxytocin release. This positive feedback loop helps to intensify labor contractions and ultimately leads to the delivery of the baby. Choice A (the movement of the fetus toward the cervical canal) and choice B (the pressure the unborn exerts on the cervix) are not examples of positive feedback, but rather describe the physical process of the fetus descending through the birth canal. Choice D (the dilation of the cervix followed by the rupture of the amnion) and choice E (the ejection of the placenta at the end of the placental stage) are important events in labor, but they are not examples of positive feedback.

Which of the Following Is an Example of Positive Feedback