The nurse discussing fetal development describes the hormone ...

[kaid0807]

The nurse discussing fetal development describes the hormone responsible for suppressing the maternal immunological response to the fetus, thereby facilitating physiological acceptance of the pregnancy. Which hormone is the nurse describing?
 
  A.
  Estrogen
  B.
  Human chorionic gonadotropin
  C.
  Human placental lactogen
  D.
  Progesterone

Question 2

A student asks the faculty member to explain why the fetus has such a low PO2. What explanation by the faculty member is most accurate?
 
  A.
  Blood from the mother is deoxygenated.
  B.
  It keeps the ductus arteriosus open.
  C.
  It maintains the maternal circulation.
  D.
  It supports the foramen ovale.

[bitingbit]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Progesterone helps to suppress maternal immunological responses to fetal antigens, thereby preventing maternal rejection of the fetus. Estrogen enhances myometrial activity, promotes myometrial vasodilation, increases maternal respiratory center sensitivity to carbon dioxide, softens fibers in the cervical collagen tissue, increases the pituitary secretion of prolactin, increases serum-binding proteins and fibrinogen, decreases plasma proteins, and increases sensitivity of the uterus to progesterone in late pregnancy. Human placental lactogen regulates glucose availability for the fetus and promotes fetal growth by altering maternal protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism. Human chorionic gonadotropin maintains the corpus luteum during early pregnancy until the placenta has sufficiently developed to produce adequate amounts of progesterone.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The low fetal PO2 helps to maintain fetal (not maternal) circulation and keeps the ductus arteriosus open. It also helps keep the pulmonary vascular bed constricted. Blood from the mother is oxygenated. It does not support the foramen ovale.