Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals Flashcards
7 cards from real Low Risk Neonatal Nurse Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals flashcards as text
In fetal circulation, the foramen ovale primarily shunts blood from which location to which?
Answer: Right atrium to left atrium
High right-sided pressure in the fetus sends oxygenated blood from the right atrium across the foramen ovale to the left atrium, bypassing the lungs.
The ductus arteriosus connects which two vessels in the fetus?
Answer: Pulmonary artery and descending aorta
The ductus arteriosus diverts blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the high-resistance fetal lungs.
The ductus venosus allows oxygenated umbilical venous blood to do which of the following?
Answer: Bypass the liver and flow to the inferior vena cava
The ductus venosus shunts most umbilical venous blood past the hepatic circulation into the inferior vena cava.
Which change is the main trigger for functional closure of the ductus arteriosus after birth?
Answer: Rising PaO2 and falling prostaglandin levels
Higher oxygen levels and loss of placental prostaglandins cause the ductus arteriosus to constrict.
A normal umbilical cord contains how many vessels?
Answer: Two arteries and one vein
The cord has two arteries carrying deoxygenated blood to the placenta and one vein carrying oxygenated blood to the fetus.
What is the normal awake heart rate range for a healthy term newborn?
Answer: 120 to 160 beats per minute
A term newborn's awake heart rate is typically 120 to 160 beats per minute, dropping to about 100 when deeply asleep.
What primarily causes pulmonary vascular resistance to fall after birth?
Answer: Lung expansion and increased oxygenation
Lung aeration and higher oxygen levels relax the pulmonary arterioles, dropping resistance and increasing pulmonary blood flow.
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