A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which observation best demonstrates cephalocaudal growth?
Infant can hold head steady before rolling over
Infant can pick up small objects with thumb and forefinger
Infant can sit independently
Infant can crawl using arms and legs simultaneously
The Correct Answer is A
A. Infant can hold head steady before rolling over is correct because cephalocaudal growth and development occur from head to toe. Control of the head and neck muscles develops first, followed by control of the trunk and then the lower extremities. Being able to hold the head steady is an early milestone that clearly demonstrates cephalocaudal progression.
B. Infant can pick up small objects with thumb and forefinger is incorrect because this describes development of the pincer grasp, which reflects fine motor development and typically occurs later (around 9–12 months). It does not specifically demonstrate cephalocaudal progression.
C. Infant can sit independently is incorrect because sitting requires trunk and core muscle control, which develops after head control. While related to cephalocaudal development, it is not the best example because it occurs later in the sequence.
D. Infant can crawl using arms and legs simultaneously is incorrect because crawling involves coordinated use of both upper and lower extremities, which occurs later in infancy and reflects overall motor coordination rather than early head-to-toe development.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. "Your baby should weigh about 15 lbs by now" is correct. When discussing infant growth, nurses refer to standard pediatric growth milestones, which indicate that a healthy, full-term infant typically doubles their birth weight by 4–6 months and triples it by 12 months. Since this infant weighed 7 lbs at birth, the expected weight at 6 months would be approximately 14 lbs, making “about 15 lbs” an accurate and reassuring estimate. This reflects adequate nutrition and normal metabolic development.
B. "Your baby should weigh about 25 lbs by now" is incorrect because this weight is significantly above the expected range for a 6-month-old. A 25-lb infant at this age would be unusual and could suggest measurement error or a rare growth disorder.
C. "Your baby should weigh about 20 lbs by now" is incorrect because 20 lbs corresponds to an older infant, likely 12–15 months old, and is too high for a 6-month-old who weighed 7 lbs at birth.
D. "Your baby should weigh about 10 lbs by now" is incorrect because 10 lbs is less than double the birth weight. If a 6-month-old weighed only 10 lbs, it could indicate growth delay, malnutrition, or other underlying health concerns, requiring further assessment.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Estrogen is incorrect because, while estrogen promotes uterine growth, blood flow, and development of the mammary glands, it does not primarily maintain the uterine lining or prevent contractions. Estrogen actually increases toward the end of pregnancy and can help sensitize the uterus to oxytocin, promoting labor.
B. Progesterone is correct because it maintains the endometrial lining, supporting implantation and early fetal development, and inhibits uterine contractions throughout pregnancy. By relaxing smooth muscle in the uterus, progesterone helps prevent premature labor and miscarriage. Its levels remain high during most of pregnancy and decrease near term to allow labor to begin.
C. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is incorrect because hCG’s primary role is to signal the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone during early pregnancy. While essential in the first trimester, it does not directly maintain the uterine lining or prevent contractions throughout pregnancy.
D. Relaxin is incorrect because relaxin primarily relaxes the ligaments of the pelvis and softens the cervix to prepare for labor. It does not maintain the endometrium or inhibit uterine contractions.
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