Fetal circulation quiz for nursing students taking maternity nursing!
It is important to be familiar with fetal circulation as you study maternity nursing. The student should be familiar with the basic structures of the fetal circulatory system. For example, what structures within the circulatory system shunt blood away from the liver and lungs. In addition, to how the fetal circulation changes after birth.
Don’t forget to watch the lecture on fetal circulation before taking the quiz. Also, this quiz is part of a NCLEX review series over maternity nursing, so be sure to check out those other reviews as well.
Fetal Circulation Quiz NCLEX
This quiz will test your knowledge on fetal circulation in preparation for maternity nursing for the NCLEX exam.
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Fetal Circulation Quiz
1. What structures in fetal circulation play a role in shunting blood away from the LUNGS? Select all that apply:
A. Ductus arteriosus
B. Ductus venosus
C. Umbilical artery
D. Foramen ovale
E. Umbilical vein
The answers are A and D. The ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale are the structures that help blood flow bypass (or shunt) away from the lungs. These structures seal off and become nonfunctional after birth. The ductus venosus plays a role with shunting blood from the LIVER (not lungs).
2. Select the structures in fetal circulation that play a role with shunting blood away from the lungs and liver? Select all that apply:
A. Umbilical vein
B. Ductus venosus
C. Foramen ovale
D. Umbilical artery
E. Ductus arteriosus
The answers are B, C, and E. These structures play a role with shunting blood from the lungs and liver. The ductus venosus shunts some blood from the LIVER, and the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus shunt blood from the LUNGS.
3. Which statement below accurately describes the role of the ductus arteriosus?
A. “The ductus arteriosus helps connect the umbilical artery to the inferior vena cava.”
B. “The ductus arteriosus is found between the right and left atrium.”
C. “In fetal circulation the pulmonary artery and aorta are connected via the ductus arteriosus.”
D. “The ductus arteriosus only carries oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart to the right side.”
The answer is C. This is the only correct statement about the ductus arteriosus. This structure connects the pulmonary artery and aorta, which helps carry mixed blood (oxygenated and deoxygenated blood) to the lower body and back to the placenta via the umbilical arteries (which branch off the descending aorta). This structure helps shunt blood away from the lungs.
4. Fill in the blank: The ______________ carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus. Some of the blood flow from this structure is shunted from the __________ to the ___________ via the _______________.
A. umbilical artery, lungs, aorta, ductus arteriosus
B. umbilical vein, liver, inferior vena cava, ductus venosus
C. umbilical vein, liver, superior vena cava, ductus arteriosus
D. umbilical artery, liver, inferior vena cava, ductus venosus
The answer is B. The UMBILICAL VEIN carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus. Some of the blood flow from this structure is shunted from the LIVER to the INFERIOR VENA CAVA via the DUCTUS VENOSUS.
5. Fill in the blank: The pressure in the fetal lungs before birth is __________, which allows blood from the _____________ to shunt into the ______________ via the __________________.
A. high, pulmonary artery, aorta, ductus arteriosus
B. high, pulmonary vein, aorta, ductus venosus
C. low, aorta, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, ductus arteriosus
D. low, right atrium, left atrium, foramen ovale
The answer is A. The pressure in the fetal lungs is HIGH, which allows blood from the PULMONARY ARTERY to shunt into the AORTA via the DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS.
6. Fill in the blank: In the fetus’ circulation before birth the pressure is ____________ on the right side of the heart compared to the left side. This causes some of the blood from the _________ atrium to flow into the __________ atrium via the ______________.
A. lower, right, left, foramen ovale
B. higher, left, right, ductus arteriosus
C. higher, right, left, foramen ovale
D. lower, left, right, ductus venosus
The answer is C. In the fetus before birth, the pressure in HIGHER on the right side of the heart compared to the left side. This causes the blood from the RIGHT atrium to flow into the LEFT atrium via the FORAMEN OVALE.
7. True or False: The umbilical cord is made up of two umbilical veins and one umbilical artery.
The answer is FALSE: The statement should say: The umbilical cord is made up of ONE (not two) umbilical vein and TWO (not one) umbilical arteries.
8. After the birth of the baby, heart circulation changes due to the closure of the shunting structures in the baby’s circulatory system. Select below all the reasons for the closure of these shunting structures:
A. The pressure in the right side of the heart decreases compared to the left side.
B. The resistance in the lungs decreases.
C. Prostaglandin production increases.
D. Oxygen levels in the baby’s body increase.
The answers are: A, B, and D. The only incorrect statement is Option C. The placenta produces prostaglandins. When it is removed the production of prostaglandin production decreases, which causes the ductus arteriosus to close.
9. Fill in the blank: In fetal circulation the umbilical artery carries _____________, while the umbilical vein carries ________________.
A. deoxygenated blood, oxygenated blood.
B. deoxygenated/oxygenated blood, oxygen blood.
C. oxygenated blood, deoxygenated blood.
The answer is A. The umbilical artery in fetal circulation carries DEOXYGENATED, while the umbilical vein carries OXYGENATED.
10. The right ventricle pumps what type of blood up through the pulmonary artery?
A. Oxygenated
B. Deoxygenated
C. Mixed
The answer is C. The blood pumped from the right ventricle contains both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. Therefore, it is mixed.
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