Fetal Physiology and Oxygenation Quiz

The placenta serves as the primary source of oxygen for the developing fetus.

Oxygen is primarily transported in fetal blood by binding to hemoglobin, similar to adult circulation.

The ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the pulmonary circulation in fetal hearts.

Before birth, the primary function of fetal kidneys is to produce urine, regulating amniotic fluid volume.

Fetal urine in the amniotic fluid plays a crucial role in maintaining volume and composition.

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) enhances oxygen transfer across the placenta, ensuring adequate oxygen supply to the fetus.

Prostaglandin E2 is the hormone responsible for maintaining the patency of the fetal ductus arteriosus, allowing blood to bypass the pulmonary circulation.

Fetal lung development primarily occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Surfactant facilitates fetal lung expansion and prevents collapse by reducing surface tension.

The ductus venosus connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, directing oxygenated blood towards fetal circulation.

The ductus venosus functions to bypass the fetal liver, directing oxygenated blood towards the heart.

Uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) is the enzyme responsible for converting fetal bilirubin to its water-soluble form for excretion.

The process by which fetal red blood cells are destroyed in the spleen and liver is known as hemolysis.

Progesterone is the hormone responsible for maintaining the integrity of the fetal ductus arteriosus during pregnancy.

The main function of fetal brown fat (brown adipose tissue) is to regulate body temperature in the developing fetus.