Anatomy and Physiology Flashcard 3

D. Rationale: Robin sequence is a common congenital anomaly that potentially obstructs the airway. The abnormality is an underdeveloped mandible that is positioned posteriorly relative to the maxilla. Therefore, the tongue tends to fall posteriorly, obstructing the pharynx. Another anomaly of the Robin sequence is a cleft palate.

D. Rationale: The vallecula is an important anatomic structure when performing endotracheal intubation. Usually, the blade of the laryngoscope ends in this pouch. Lifting the pouch with the laryngoscope will expose vital structures such as the vocal cord.

D. Rationale: The risk of hyperbilirubinemia and polycythemia are known side-effects of delayed cord clamping. One benefit of delayed cord clamping is higher blood pressure and blood volume.

A. Rationale: The developed alveoli naturally secrete surfactant, which lowers the surface tension at the air/liquid interface within the alveoli. If this surface tension is lower, lung compliance increases and work of breathing decreases because the surfactant prevents alveolar collapse at the end of exhalation. The lungs of preterm infants often do not yet produce surfactant.

B. Rationale: Intraventricular hemorrhage is brought about by immature blood vessels in the brain that cannot cope with drastic changes in blood pressure, which makes preterm newborns prone to intraventricular hemorrhage.

D. Rationale: Choanal atresia is the obliteration or blockage of the posterior nasal aperture caused by bony abnormalities in the pterygoid plates and midfacial abnormalities. It is thought that the persistence of the oronasal membrane prevents the fusion of the nose to the oropharynx. Choanal atresia occurs in 1 out of every 7,000 live births.

D. Rationale: Fetal hydrops is an abnormal collection of fluid in fetal soft tissues and serous cavities caused by a dysregulation of the net fluid movement between the interstitial and vascular spaces. Fetal hydrops causes extravasation of serous fluid, which can lead to a fetal pleural effusion. The fetal pleural effusion may impede lung growth in utero.

B. Rationale: Newborns needing neonatal resuscitation will likely have poor kidney perfusion. The kidneys are sensitive to damage if there is inadequate perfusion, which can cause acute tubular necrosis. Patients will present with fluid retention and electrolyte imbalances.

B. Rationale: The thyroid cartilage is a broad cartilage that can be felt in the anterior neck as flat and hard cartilage. It houses the larynx and vocal cords. Anterior to the thyroid cartilage is the thyroid gland.

B. Rationale: It is important to measure the preductal circulation during the initial steps of neonatal resuscitation. Preductal circulation represents blood flow in vital organs such as the heart and brain. The pulse oximeter is placed in a location where an artery attaches to the aorta before the ductus arteriosus, located in the right upper extremity.