Deck 2: Prenatal Development and the Newborn Period

Question 1

Embryonic cells are also known as:

A)stem cells.
B)divided cells.
C)fertilized eggs.
D)zygotic cells.

Answer 1

stem cells.

Question 2

Which of the following occurrences is an example of cell division?

A)splitting of the fertilized egg into two equal parts
B)death of cells in between the ridges on the hand plate
C)movement of new cells into the outer layer of the brain
D)specialization of eye cells

Answer 2

splitting of the fertilized egg into two equal parts

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the flexibility of a cell's function during the embryonic and fetal periods is true?

A)Cells are initially flexible and then become inflexible.
B)Cells are initially inflexible and then become more flexible.
C)Cells are flexible throughout the embryonic and fetal periods.
D)Cells are inflexible throughout the embryonic and fetal periods.

Answer 3

Cells are initially flexible and then become inflexible.

Question 4

Stem cells:

A)have varying genetic make-ups.
B)contain half the genetic material of the individual.
C)are flexible in function.
D)None of the answers is correct.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the "survival of the fittest" principle and conception is true?

A)This principle applies only to the process of egg release from the fallopian tube, not to the other processes involved in conception.
B)The eggs that manage to reach the sperm are likely to be healthy, as eggs with serious defects tend to be unable to reach the sperm.
C)The sperm that manage to reach the egg are likely to be healthy, as sperm with serious defects tend to be unable to reach the egg.
D)This principle does not come into play until the child is born.

Question 6

Of the millions of sperm that enter the vagina, how many get close to the egg?

A)one or two
B)approximately 200
C)hundreds of thousands
D)almost all that enter

Question 7

Which of the following activities is consistent with the beliefs of the Beng people of West Africa about when life begins?

A)elaborately painting newborns' faces
B)protecting the umbilical stump from drying out and falling off
C)allowing newborns to cry for several minutes before tending to them
D)All of the answers are consistent with Beng beliefs.
E)None of the answers is consistent with Beng beliefs.

Question 8

Which of the following sequences is in the correct developmental progression from earliest to latest?

A)embryo, fetus, zygote
B)zygote, fetus, embryo
C)fetus, zygote, embryo
D)zygote, embryo, fetus

Question 9

A fertilized egg is termed a(n):

A)embryo.
B)zygote.
C)fetus.
D)gamete.

Question 10

Which of the following concepts would Aristotle have been MOST likely to believe?

A)The effects of thalidomide on prenatal development vary depending on when during the pregnancy the mother took the drug.
B)Infants born prematurely already have all the
correct structures but in miniature.
C)Female eggs contain minuscule preformed human beings.
D)Aristotle would have been equally likely to believe both A and C.
E)Aristotle would have been equally likely to believe both B and C.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of cell differentiation?

A)splitting of the fertilized egg into two equal parts
B)death of cells in between the ridges on the hand plate
C)movement of new cells into the outer layer of the brain
D)specialization of eye cells

Question 12

Sperm and eggs are referred to as:

A)gametes.
B)embryos.
C)zygotes.
D)genetic cells.

Question 13

Aristotle supported the idea of epigenesis, the notion that:

A)prenatal development begins with a new miniature individual already preformed.
B)new structures and functions emerge throughout prenatal development.
C)prenatal development begins in the center of the body of the new individual.
D)Eve was created out of Adam's rib.

Question 14

Researchers working on diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's are interested in early embryonic stem cells because of their:

A)flexibility.
B)genetic make-up.
C)size.
D)specialized function.

Question 15

An embryologist would be most interested in examining the:

A)X-ray of the internal organs of a 2-year-old child.
B)ultrasound images of an unborn fetus at 4 weeks and at 20 weeks following conception.
C)blood test of a pregnant woman.
D)picture of all of the members of a family.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the disproportionate number of males and females is true?

A)Sperm containing a Y chromosome swim faster than those containing an X chromosome.
B)Male fetuses are more vulnerable to miscarriage than are female fetuses.
C)Cultural values and governmental policy contribute to the differences in the number of male and female babies born and raised in some societies.
D)Statements A and B are true.
E)All of the statements are true.

Question 17

Cell differentiation refers to the of cells.

A)division
B)specialization
C)migration
D)death

Question 18

Which of the following developmental processes occurs earliest?

A)cell migration
B)aptosis
C)cell division
D)cell differentiation

Question 19

Cell migration occurs during which period?

A)apoptosis
B)fetal
C)germinal
D)embryonic

Question 20

The Beng people of West Africa believe that life begins:

A)at conception, as an angel is believed to enter the fertilized egg.
B)during the third trimester, as this is the time at which independent thoughts are believed to begin.
C)at birth, as the newborn is introduced to the sun at this time.
D)when the umbilical stump drops off, as this is when the newborn is believed to emerge from the spirit village and become a person.

Question 21

Which of the following organs acts as a defensive barrier against toxins and infections?

A)umbilical cord
B)amniotic sac
C)placenta
D)amniotic fluid

Question 22

Which of the following activities is NOT a function of the placenta?

A)allowing for the transport of nutrients to the fetus
B)allowing for the removal waste products from the fetus
C)cushioning the fetus
D)providing a barrier to infection

Question 23

Research demonstrating that it is the scent of amniotic fluid that guides a newborn rat to its mother's nipple is evidence of:

A)the similarity of rats and humans in their taste preferences.
B)fetal learning.
C)phylogenetic continuity.
D)rats' poor maternal instincts.

Question 24

A belief in phylogenic continuity is necessary for developmentalists to:

A)understand that prenatal experiences can affect adult development.
B)predict rates of infant mortality.
C)test hypotheses about human development on chimpanzees.
D)comprehend how stem cells function.

Question 25

After the implantation of the zygote, as the ball of cells begins to differentiate, the inner cell mass becomes the:

A)fetus.
B)gamete.
C)embryo.
D)support system.

Question 26

The study in which cells located in the eye region of a frog embryo were moved to its belly demonstrated which of the following properties of cell functions?

A)The location of a given cell before migration determines its function.
B)The location of a given cell after migration determines its function.
C)The genetic make-up of a given cell before migration determines its function.
D)The genetic make-up of a given cell after migration determines its function.

Question 27

Which of the following items is an example of the active participation of the fetus in its own development?

A)fetal alcohol syndrome
B)hormonal influence on development of sex organs
C)placental defense against toxins and infections
D)cephalocaudal development

Question 28

The fact that researchers interested in human developmental processes often examine rats is an indication that they believe in:

A)stem cell flexibility.
B)the ethical treatment of animals.
C)apoptosis.
D)phylogenetic continuity.

Question 29

Which of the following organs contains the blood vessels running between the embryo and the placenta?

A)umbilical cord
B)amniotic sac
C)neural tube
D)amniotic fluid

Question 30

Which of the following adjectives describes a characteristic of the placenta?

A)transparent
B)porous
C)watertight
D)semipermeable

Question 31

Which of the following statements about apoptosis is true?

A)Apoptosis is a necessary part of development.
B)Apoptosis signals there might be a problem with
prenatal development.
C)Apoptosis explains why stem cells are sought after by researchers.
D)Apoptosis is also called cell migration.

Question 32

Apoptosis refers to:

A)programmed cell death.
B)cell reproduction.
C)cell migration.
D)cell division.

Question 33

The three layers of the inner cell mass develop into:

A)different parts of the body of the embryo.
B)the fetus, the zygote, and the embryo.
C)the embryo, the placenta, and the umbilical cord.
D)different parts of the neural tube.

Question 34

Which of the following events is thought to be apoptosis?

A)splitting of the fertilized egg into two equal parts
B)death of cells in between the ridges on the hand plate
C)movement of new cells into the outer layer of the brain
D)specialization of eye cells

Question 35

Which of the following statements about the levels of genetic similarity of identical twins, same-sex fraternal twins, and other same-sex sibling pairs is true?

A)Same-sex fraternal twins and other same-sex sibling pairs have an equal level of genetic similarity, and they are both less genetically similar than identical twins.
B)Same-sex fraternal and identical twins have an equal level of genetic similarity, and they are both more genetically similar than other same-sex sibling pairs.
C)Same-sex fraternal twins are more genetically similar than both identical twins and other same-sex sibling pairs.
D)Identical twins, same-sex fraternal twins, and other same-sex sibling pairs all have equal levels of genetic similarity.

Question 36

Phylogenetic continuity refers to the:

A)expectation that some cells have a programmed suicide and thus selectively disappear.
B)notion that stem cells may be the key to curing
diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
C)idea that humans share some characteristics and developmental processes with other animals.
D)relation between a cell's function before and after migration.

Question 37

The idea that humans share some developmental processes with other animals because of our shared evolutionary history is referred to as:

A)FASD.
B)developmental resilience.
C)fetal programming.
D)phylogenic continuity.

Question 38

The level of determines whether a fetus develops female or male sex organs.

A)testosterone produced by the mother
B)progesterone produced by the mother
C)testosterone produced by the fetus
D)progesterone produced by the fetus

Question 39

The neural tube develops into the:

A)internal organs.
B)brain and spinal cord.
C)digestive system.
D)inner layers of skin.

Question 40

Identical twins most often originate:

A)from two eggs being fertilized by two sperm.
B)when an egg splits and is fertilized by two sperm.
C)when an inner cell mass splits in half.
D)when an embryo splits in half.

Question 41

For which of the following fetal behaviors is there no known explanation?

A)breathing movements
B)hiccups
C)swallowing
D)moving arms and legs
E)All of the answers are correct.

Question 42

Which of the following activities is NOT generally performed by fetuses?

A)sucking
B)exercising breathing muscles
C)scratching itches
D)swallowing
E)moving arms and legs

Question 43

Gina and Margaret are pregnant at the same time.
Gina's fetus is quite active throughout the day, whereas Margaret's fetus is rather inactive. Which of the following explanations would be the best guess as to how active their infants will be?

A)Gina's infant is likely to be more active than Margaret's infant.
B)Margaret's infant is likely to be more active than Gina's infant.
C)Gina's infant and Margaret's infant will probably be similar in activity level, as all infants have similar levels of activity.
D)There is no way to predict postnatal activity level from prenatal activity level, so we cannot even make a guess about the infants' activity levels.

Question 44

Which of the following statements about the fetus's taste experiences and preferences is true?

A)The fetus does not drink or eat through its mouth, and thus it has no taste experiences or preferences.
B)The fetus drinks amniotic fluid, but the fluid has a constant flavor, and thus the fetus has no taste preferences.
C)The fetus drinks amniotic fluid, but it cannot distinguish among different flavors in the fluid and thus has no taste preferences.
D)The fetus drinks amniotic fluid, can distinguish among different flavors in the fluid, and prefers sweet flavors.

Question 45

Which sense is LEAST stimulated in the uterus?

A)taste
B)sight
C)touch
D)hearing
E)smell

Question 46

How have scientists concluded that fetuses prefer sweet flavors?

A)When a saccharin-dye combination was injected into the amniotic fluid of some fetuses and dye only was injected into the amniotic fluid of other fetuses, the urine of the saccharin mothers contained more dye than the urine of the no-saccharin mothers.
B)When offered chocolate milk versus orange juice, preterm infants drank more chocolate milk.
C)Fetuses smile more when fed a sugar solution than when fed a saline solution.
D)It is an assumption made based on research conducted with newborns.
E)None of the answers is correct.

Question 47

The protects the fetus from bumps and jolts?

A)umbilical cord
B)amniotic fluid
C)neural tube
D)placenta

Question 48

The fetal behavior of swallowing is thought to:

A)continually clean the internal organs as they develop.
B)promote the normal development of the palate.
C)be somewhat harmful to the development of the intestines.
D)be one of the earliest prenatal movements.

Question 49

Which of the following statements about the taste and smell of amniotic fluid is true?

A)Amniotic fluid has a constant taste and smell.
B)Amniotic fluid can take on a variety of flavors but has a constant smell.
C)Amniotic fluid has a constant taste but can take on a variety of odors.
D)Amniotic fluid can take on a variety of flavors and odors.

Question 50

Which of the following statements about prenatal development of the heart is true?

A)By 6 weeks, the heart has developed into its basic adult structure.
B)At 12 weeks, the heart begins to beat and circulate blood.
C)By 4 weeks, the heart is beating and circulating
blood.
D)At 16 weeks, the heart develops into its basic adult structure.

Question 51

Cephalocaudal development refers to the tendency for development to take place from to .

A)head; body
B)body; head
C)inside; outside
D)outside; inside

Question 52

In general, prenatal development occurs in such a manner that areas close to the develop earlier than areas farther away from it.

A)spinal cord
B)heart
C)head
D)large intestine

Question 53

The placental membrane allows to pass through it?

A)oxygen, carbon dioxide, blood, and some antibodies
B)blood, urea, minerals, and nutrients
C)all antibodies, nutrients, urea, and oxygen
D)carbon dioxide, nutrients, minerals, and some
antibodies

Question 54

Habituation involves of the heart rate.

A)stability
B)unpredictability
C)acceleration
D)deceleration

Question 55

Which of the following statements about the rate of prenatal development is true?

A)Earlier development takes place at a more rapid pace than later development.
B)Later development takes place at a more rapid pace than earlier development.
C)The pace of development remains relatively continuous.
D)Development begins slowly, speeds up, and then slows down again.

Question 56

An 8-month-old fetus who hears a phone ring repeatedly over the course of several minutes probably experiences:

A)initial changes in heart rate, with decreased changes as the ringing continues.
B)initial changes in heart rate, with increased changes as the ringing continues.
C)no changes in heart rate initially, but increased
changes as the ringing continues.
D)no changes in heart rate throughout the ringing.

Question 57

Which of the following sounds does the fetus hear?

A)noises made by the mother's digestive system
B)voices of people talking to the mother
C)blood pumping through the mother's vascular system
D)intonation and pattern of the mother's speech
E)All of the answers are correct.

Question 58

A fetus's decreased response to a repeated stimulus is termed:

A)sensitization.
B)desensitization.
C)habituation.
D)dishabituation.

Question 59

Which of the following statements about fetal activity and inactivity is true?

A)Fetuses do not have true sleep states, but they do have periods of inactivity while awake.
B)Fetuses have periods of high activity and rest while awake, and they have both active and quiet sleep states.
C)Fetuses are essentially asleep most of the day and night, but their sleep can be active or quiet.
D)Fetuses are in constant motion throughout the day and night.

Question 60

Habituation indicates that a fetus a stimulus.

A)likes
B)dislikes
C)has learned to recognize
D)has failed to perceive

Question 61

Which of the following statements about fetal exposure to alcohol is NOT true?

A)Alcohol in the mother's blood crosses the placenta into the fetus's bloodstream.
B)The fetus smells alcohol through the amniotic sac.
C)The fetus drinks alcohol-laden amniotic fluid.
D)The fetus's poor ability to metabolize alcohol causes it to remain in the fetus's system for an extended period.
E)All of the statements are true.

Question 62

What advice would you give to expectant parents who are interested in educating their child in a foreign language and classical literature before birth?

A)Fetuses have no ability to learn anything while in the womb, and thus any talking, singing, or reading you do will not be remembered by the fetus after it is born.
B)Although your child may come to recognize and even prefer the patterns of the language and literature he or she is exposed to while in the womb, babies are unable to hear specific words or learn any kind of factual knowledge while in the womb.
C)You will give your child a sufficient headstart if you pipe foreign language and classical literature recordings into the womb.
D)If you want your child to become fluent in a foreign language and appreciate literature, you must start before the child is born.

Question 63

Smoking by pregnant women does NOT contribute to which of the following conditions in the unborn child?

A)decreased IQ
B)increased risk of SIDS
C)increased risk of FASD
D)retarded growth
E)cancer

Question 64

Which of the following statements about the effects of cigarette smoke on a fetus is true?

A)Exposure to second-hand smoke is unlikely to cause prenatal defects.
B)The fetus gets less oxygen when its mother smokes.
C)The amniotic sac prevents the fetus from being exposed to cancer-causing agents in tobacco.
D)All of the statements are true.
E)None of the statements is true.

Question 65

The discovery of Minamata disease demonstrated the:

A)greater vulnerability of males than of females.
B)effects of cultural differences in birthing practices.
C)protective value of the placenta.
D)detrimental impact environmental factors can have on prenatal development.

Question 66

The teratogenic effect of which of the following substances can best be characterized as a sleeper effect?

A)DES
B)thalidomide
C)cigarette smoke
D)alcohol

Question 67

Which of the following statements about the timing of effects of teratogens is true?

A)The sensitive period for the development of the external genitalia occurs prior to the sensitive period for the heart.
B)The sensitive periods for the central nervous system and the heart are the same.
C)Exposure to teratogens during the fetal period is likely to lead to major structural defects.
D)All of the statements are true.
E)None of the statements is true.

Question 68

In the United States, which of the following substances is the MOST common cause of injury to the fetal brain?

A)alcohol
B)illegal drugs
C)toxoplasma
D)cigarette smoke

Question 69

The most likely threat to prenatal development is:

A)illegal drugs.
B)miscarriage.
C)alcohol.
D)herpes.

Question 70

Which of the following statements about sensitive periods in prenatal development is true?

A)All major organ systems share the exact same sensitive period.
B)Teratogens have the most serious effect on prenatal development immediately before a system's sensitive period.
C)A sensitive period is the time when a system's basic structures are being formed.
D)The sensitive period of limb development occurs several weeks before the limbs begin to form.

Question 71

At the end of her pregnancy, Joshua's mother's diet included a lot of ginger. Based on the research cited in the text, which of the following statements is MOST likely to be true?

A)Newborn Joshua is likely to have no memory for the smell or taste of ginger because maternal diet does not affect prenatal experience.
B)Newborn Joshua is likely to have no memory for the smell or taste of ginger because fetal memory is very short-lived.
C)Newborn Joshua is likely to remember the smell and taste of ginger, but this memory will last only a week or two.
D)Newborn Joshua is likely to remember the smell and taste of ginger well into his first year.

Question 72

Newborns prefer to listen to:

A)another woman's voice over their mothers' voice.
B)their mothers' language over another language.
C)novel stories rather than familiar stories.
D)Newborns show no auditory preferences.

Question 73

Which of the following sounds is newborn Elena MOST likely to prefer?

A)her mother's voice
B)her mother's voice, muffled
C)her mother's voice, sped up
D)her father's voice

Question 74

For teratogens that show a dose-response relation:

A)any level of exposure to the teratogen causes an equivalent likelihood of a defect.
B)the greater the exposure to the teratogen, the greater the likelihood of a defect.
C)the greater the exposure to the teratogen, the lesser the likelihood of a defect.
D)exposure to the teratogen can be beneficial at low levels.

Question 75

The likelihood of a prenatal defect and the severity of the defect from exposure to teratogens are generally dependent on:

A)amount of exposure.
B)genetic susceptibility.
C)levels of exposure to other teratogenic agents.
D)All of the answers are correct.
E)None of the answers is correct.

Question 76

Environmental agents that have the potential to cause harm during prenatal development are referred to as:

A)illegal drugs.
B)dermatogens.
C)teratogens.
D)pollutants.

Question 77

Which of the following substances is NOT considered a teratogen?

A)poor nutrition
B)illegal drugs
C)environmental pollutants
D)cigarette smoke

Question 78

Infant preferences based on prenatal experience have been demonstrated for:

A)sounds.
B)flavors.
C)smells.
D)All of the answers are correct.
E)None of the answers is correct.

Question 79

The study by DeCasper and Spence in which pregnant women read to their fetuses from The Cat in the Hat demonstrated that newborn infants were to recognize the story they had heard while in the uterus, and/but prefer it over other stories.

A)able; did
B)able; did not
C)unable; did
D)unable; did not

Question 80

The term fetal programming means:

A)individual differences in teratogenic effects that occur as a result of genetic differences.
B)prenatal learning of sounds, tastes, and smells.
C)genetic differences in ability to learn prenatally.
D)the later emergence of effects of the prenatal period.