Term
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Definition
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Regular uterine contractions that cause thinning and dilatation of the cervix
Result in delivery of the fetus.
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Term
| What is important for labor? |
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Definition
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What is important for labor?
Adequate pelvis
Cervical change
Cooperative fetus
uterus
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Term
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Definition
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around 40 weeks (280 days), term--anywhere between 37 weeks and 41 weeks and 6 days
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Term
| what are the 3 bones of the pelvis? |
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Definition
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illium, ishium, and pubis
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Term
| what divides the true pelvis from the false pelvis? |
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Definition
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Term
| what are the 3 planes of the TRUE pelvis? |
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Definition
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Pelvic inlet
AP diameter = conjugate
Transverse diameter;
Midplane
AP diameter
Transverse diameter = bispinous distance = an important landmark for ensuring that the fetus's head gets through.
Pelvic outlet
AP diameter
Transverse diameter = bituberous distance
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Term
| what are the 3 things that make up the cervix? |
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Definition
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1. Smooth muscle
2. Collagen
3. Glycosaminoglycans
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Term
| how is collagen composed? |
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Definition
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Collagen
Unit = tropocollagen = triple helix of collagen chains
Synthesized in connective tissue cells
Crosslinks exist between the chains
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Term
| what are the 2 types of GAGs? |
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Definition
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Glycosaminoglycans =
Dermatan (hydrophobic)
Chondroitin
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Term
| What is necessary for cervical dialiation? |
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Definition
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the collagen must be broken down, tissue btw the collagen must absorb water.
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Term
| what is cervical effacement? |
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Definition
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Collagen chains are broken down by the process of:
Hydrophobic GAGs are replaced by more hydrophilic hyaluronic acid to absorb water to become soft.
Cervical smooth muscle contraction causes the cervical tissue to be pulled upward and be incorporated into the lower segment of the corpus. The cervix is dialating and being usurped into the uterus.
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Term
| what is an incompetant cervix? |
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Definition
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predialation--maybe the collage isn't firm enough. Put a stitch into the internal os.
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Term
| what does a pregnant cervix look like in comparison to a non pregnant cervix? |
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Definition
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non preg--organized collagen, pregnant - disorganized collagen. again, during preg, GAGs change, absorb the water, allowing cervix to dialate and for fetus to come out.
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Term
| describe the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium of the uterus. |
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Definition
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The smooth muscle cells are arranged in spiral bundles which continue to the upper portion of the cervix.
The majority of the myometrium is smooth muscle (contrast to cervix). Though they are in close proximity to each other, there is no direct contact between individual muscle cells until the end of pregnancy when gap junctions appear. Muscle cells spiral and are arranged in bundles.
Thick + thin filaments
Gap junctions
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Term
| what is the point of gap junctions? |
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Definition
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once 1 smooth muscle contracts, they all contract (like dominos). So, muscles do not contract via neural inneration-they contract via horomones.
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Term
| what contractile proteins are necessary for contractions? |
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Definition
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Contractile proteins
Actin (thin filament)
Myosin (thick filament) (both of which come together and are regulated by phosphorylation),
Tropomyosin,
Skeletin
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Term
| what regulatory proteins are necessary? |
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Definition
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Calmodulin
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)
Enzymes -- (de)phosphorylation
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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when it binds to Ca, it allows MLCK to be dephosphorylated, and activated.
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Term
| what is in the myosin head? |
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Definition
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Head
Globular
2 pair of light chains
ATP hydrolysis
Actin binding
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Term
| what is in the myosin tail? |
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Definition
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Tail
Helical
2 heavy chains
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Term
| what is actin comprised of? |
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Definition
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Composed of helically arranged polymers with
Tropomyosin interspersed inbetween
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Term
| what happens to make actomyosin? |
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Definition
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actin and myosin form actomyosin by using myosin ATPase and Mg. myosin globular head attaches to actin; cross bridge between thick and thin filaments; filaments slide past each other. This is how the smooth muscles of the uterus contract.
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Term
| why is phosphorylating key for the actin myosin interaction? |
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Definition
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In order for actin and myosin to interact, the light chain of actin must be phosphorylated.
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Term
| what enxyme is responsible for phosphorylation? |
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Definition
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Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) = the enzyme responsible for phosphorylation. Activated by DEPHOSPHORYLATION and
Ca-calmodulin complex
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Term
| what phosyphorylates MLCK |
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Definition
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The enzyme responsible for phosphorylating MLCK is a cAMP-dependent protein kinase which is dependent on
Adenylate cyclase
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Term
| Should myosin and actin be phosphorylated or not in order to be activated? |
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Definition
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Term
| go over the steps of actomyosin binding. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| why would you want to prevent uterine contractions from happening? |
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Definition
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to stop preterm labor--so prevent Ca from entering the cell.
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Term
| what factors cause labor? |
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Definition
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we don't know. we do know that cortisol is important, progesterone decreases, and estrogen increases.
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Term
| what do we know from sheep. |
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Definition
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That the fetus can initiate labor: the fetal cortisol activates 17-alpha hydroxylase, which converts progesterone to estrogen, which induces contractions
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Term
| why do we not understand how humans work? |
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Definition
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human placentas DO NOT have 17-alpha hydroxylase. So the placenta can't convert progesterone to androgens, the precursor of estrogen
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Term
| what do humans have instead? |
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Definition
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a shuttle system bwn the fetus and the placenta that results in transfer of DHEA from the fetus to the placenta. DHEA is transferred from the fetal adrenal to the fetal liverr where it is converted to 16 OH DHEAS. 16 OH DHEAS is then taken to the placenta where it is metabolized into estrogen.
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Term
| in order for labor to start, what must decrease? |
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Definition
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Term
| does estrogen directly cause myometrial contractoins? |
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Definition
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no, not directly. Instead, estrogens upregulate myometrial gap junctions
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Term
| what horomone does the uterus have a lot of ? |
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Definition
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Term
| what are the precursors of PG? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| what is 1 example of how estrogen indirectly causes contration? |
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Definition
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OT gene is upregulated by estrogen
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Term
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Definition
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maternal tissues that get shed with the pregnancy
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Term
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Definition
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in the fetal plasma as well as maternal plasma and tissues (decidua)
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Term
| where are OT receptors found? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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they act as receptor agonists for creating contraction
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Term
| what are 2 important enzymes? |
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Definition
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Term
| what must you have progesterone for? |
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Definition
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Term
| where does progest come from? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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upregulates gap juncitons and OT receptors
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Term
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Definition
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CRH is released by the hypothalamus, placenta, amnion, chorion, and decidua.
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Term
| Cortisol has what type of effect on CRH in an adult brain? In placenta? |
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Definition
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There are two feedback loops for CRH secretion:
Cortisol (adrenal) CRH (decidua/plac/mbs)
Prostaglandins (decidua/mbs) CRH (decidua/troph/mbs)
** Cortisol has a positive feedback effect on fetal HPA (vs. negative feedback normally seen in adult!!)
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Term
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Definition
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cortisol (adrenal), and prostaglandins (decidua)
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Term
| what enzyme is missing in the placenta? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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stimulate PG receptors, also stimulates prostaglanding creation. these both go to make smooth muscle contractions.
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Term
| what enzyme does PGE2 stimulate in the cervix? |
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Definition
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PGE2 stimulates collagenase--which is required for collagen breakdown--for cervical dialation.
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Term
| what 2 things does cortisol stimulate? |
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Definition
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Term
| what do you need for labor? |
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Definition
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In order to have labor, the uterus has to contract and the cervix has to dilate!
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Term
| What causes uterine contractions/cervical ripening? |
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Definition
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Uterine ctx
Prostaglandins (E2, F2)
Anything that increases intracellular Ca (e.g., activation of phosphotidyl inositol in membranes)
Gap junctions
Increase oxytocin receptors
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Term
| Cervical ripening/effacement |
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Definition
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Collagenase, elastase (i.e., metalloproteases)
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Term
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Definition
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PG--activates collagenase. progesterone might reduce chance of PRETERM labor.
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Term
| what are the cardinal movements? |
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Definition
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how the fetus navigates through the pelvis during labor.
. Starts in false pelvis, head, is floating.engagement, flexion, descent, turn head, extension (now in perineum)
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Term
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Definition
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when you can feel the baby at the level of the ischial spine, the kid is engaged. Descent of the biparietal diameter below the pelvic inlet.
Clinically assessed when doing a cervical check – palpate for the presenting part below the ischial spines (“0” station).
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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passive response of the fetal head to soft tissues of the pelvis
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Term
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Definition
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downward passage of the presenting part
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Term
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Definition
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Lie – relation of long axis of fetus to longitudinal axis of mother.
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Term
| what are 3 common presentations? |
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Definition
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Presentation – part of the fetus in the birth canal
Cephalic
Breech
Shoulder
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Term
| what are 2 common positions? |
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Definition
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Position – relation of a reference point on the presenting part to the maternal right or left
Vertex ~ occiput
Face ~ chin (mentum)
Breech ~ sacrum
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Term
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Definition
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closed--->fully dialated (latent phase--long time, little dialation), (active phase-->quick dialation),
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Term
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Definition
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fully dilated --> delivery
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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relationship of presenting part to ischial spines (-5-->+5)
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Term
| what are 2 things you find on a vaginal exam? |
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Definition
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the sagittal suture, and the fontanelles (soft area, where sutures come together)
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Term
| what are the 3 potential problems in labor? |
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Definition
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Dystocia is defined as abnormal labor that results from what have been categorized classically as abnormalities of the power (uterine contractions or maternal expulsive forces), the passenger (position, size, or presentation of the fetus), or the passage (pelvis or soft tissues). The term "cephalopelvic disproportion" has been used to describe a disparity between the size of the maternal pelvis and the fetal head that precludes vaginal delivery. Because dystocia can rarely be diagnosed with certainty, the relatively imprecise term "failure to progress" has been used, which includes lack of progressive cervical dilation or lack of descent of the fetal head or both. The diagnosis of dystocia should not be made before an adequate trial of labor has been achieved. A more practical classification is to categorize labor abnormalities as slower-than-normal (protraction disorders) or complete cessation of progress (arrest disorders).
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Term
| what is involved in labor management? |
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Definition
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Progress
Cervix – dilation, effacement
Fetus – station
Fetal well being – fetal heart tracing
Pain control
Intravenous narcotics
Regional (epidural, pudendal block)
Delivery
Want to avoid lacerations
Episiotomy
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Term
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Definition
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when it's phosyphorylated
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Term
| what does actin look like it its relaxed state? |
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Definition
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actin fibers are bound by a complex made up of troponin-tropomysoin.
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Term
| what is involved in the actin myosin binding? |
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Definition
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Ca, Calmodulin (the calcium bidning protein), cAMP, myosin light chain kinase
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Term
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Definition
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1. ca binds to the troponin -tropomyosin complex--resulting in this complex being unbound from the actin. as a result, cross bridges form and contractions occur.. also, ca binds to calmodulin. this complex can bind to the enzyme MLCK.
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Term
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Definition
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when activated, MLCK phosphorylates myosin light chans so that actin can attach and contractions can occur.
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Term
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Definition
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when MLCK is phosphorylated by a cAMP dependent protein kinase
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Term
| how can you physiologically describe labor? |
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Definition
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the myometrium being released from inhibitory effects of pregnancy
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Term
| what is necessary for the initiation of labor in humans? |
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Definition
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Term
| what does the fetal adrenal gland have lots of |
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Definition
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Term
| what are myometrial contractractions mediated through? |
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Definition
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ATP-dependent binding of myosin to actin
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Term
| what is the key modulator of myometrial contractility? |
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Definition
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Term
| PGs have what type of action? |
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Definition
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Term
| what type of PGs will there be an increase of? |
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Definition
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