NCC Certified Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) Practice Exam

Intervillous space perfusion is dependent on?

1. Oxygen Saturation

2. Uterine Contractions

3. Adequate Uterine Blood Flow

4. Paternal Blood Flow

The correct answer is: Adequate Uterine Blood Flow

Intervillous space perfusion is crucial for ensuring that the placenta effectively exchanges nutrients and oxygen between the maternal and fetal circulatory systems. Adequate uterine blood flow is essential for this process because it ensures that there is sufficient blood supply entering the placenta. This blood flow is necessary to provide the required circulation within the intervillous space, where maternal blood bathes the villi that protrude into it, facilitating the transfer of nutrients and gas exchange to support the developing fetus. When uterine blood flow is adequate, it allows for optimal perfusion of the intervillous space, ensuring that the placenta can fulfill its role efficiently. Other factors, while important in their own right, do not directly impact the blood flow into the intervillous spaces in the same fundamental capacity. For instance, oxygen saturation can influence the efficiency of oxygen delivery but does not affect the perfusion pressure or volume of blood reaching the placenta. Uterine contractions may assist in the overall process of labor and delivery but are not directly linked to perfusion at the intervillous level throughout gestation. Paternal blood flow is not relevant, as it is the maternal blood supply that directly influences intervillous perfusion. Thus, adequate uterine blood flow stands