Structural & Anatomical Changes
During pregnancy, uterine cells undergo both ________ (increase in cell number) and ________ (increase in cell size)
What is hyperplasia + hypertrophy?
Spiral arteries change from ______ resistance, ______ flow circulation to ______ resistance, ______ flow circulation
What is spiral arteries change from HIGH resistance, LOW flow circulation to LOW resistance, HIGH flow circulation
Progesterone increases sensitivity of this brain centre to CO₂.
What is respiratory centre?
This immunoglobulin can cross the maternal placenta to provide the developing infant with passive immunit
What is IgG?
This fetal shunt bypasses the liver, directing oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein into the inferior vena cava.
What is ductus venosus?
Fundal height increases at roughly this rate per week after 20 weeks of gestation.
What is ~1 cm per week?
Due to vasodilatory hormones and placental circulation, this vascular parameter falls by about 40% during pregnancy.
What is total/systemic vascular resistance?
This mild acid–base change occurs in maternal blood due to increased ventilation.
What is compensated respiratory alkalosis?
This immunological “paradox” prevents maternal rejection of the semi-allogeneic fetus.
What is maternal immune tolerance?
This opening between the right and left atria allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs
What is the foramen ovale?
The cervix remains firm and closed during pregnancy due to the presence of this structure.
What is mucus plug?
Pregnancy is a “__________” state because of increased coagulation factors and decreased fibrinolysis.
What is hypercoagulable?
GFR and renal blood flow increase by up to this percentage in pregnancy.
What is 50%?
These fetal cells invade spiral arteries to remodel them into low-resistance vessels.
What is trophoblasts?
This vessel diverts blood from the pulmonary artery into the descending aorta in the fetus.
What is ductus arteriosus?
This process by fetal trophoblasts converts maternal spiral arteries from high-resistance to low-resistance vessels.
What is spiral artery remodelling (trophoblast invasion)?
This maternal parameter increases steadily through pregnancy and peaks in the third trimester, enhancing preload and uteroplacental perfusion.
What is plasma volume?
Minute ventilation increases ~40% due to an increase in this parameter.
What is tidal volume?
This type of placentation describes how maternal blood bathes the chorionic villi without mixing with fetal blood.
What is haemochorial placentation?
The first breath causes a dramatic fall in this parameter, increasing blood flow to the lungs and helping close the foramen ovale.
What is pulmonary vascular resistance?
Soft tissues, cartilage and ligaments throughout the pelvis undergo this hormone-mediated remodelling to prepare for delivery.
What is relaxin-mediated remodelling?
This “shift” in blood components leads to a dilutional decrease in haemoglobin concentration known as “physiological anaemia.”
What is plasma volume ↑ more than RBC mass ↑?
Mild glycosuria and proteinuria are common but non-pathological because of altered handling by these renal structures.
What is renal tubules?
Seminal fluid delivers paternal antigens and immunosuppressive factors that prime uterine T-cells to become these tolerant immune cells.
What is T-regulatory cells (Tregs)?
Clamping of the umbilical cord raises PaO₂ and removes placental prostaglandins, triggering closure of these two fetal shunts.
What is ductus arteriosus & ductus venosus?