Twenty-four hours after a cesarean birth a neonate, at 30 weeks' gestation, is diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). When explaining to the parents about the cause of this syndrome the nurse should include a discussion about altered secretion of:
Testosterone.
Somatotropin.
Surfactant.
Progesterone.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, an androgen, responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics and reproductive tissues. While present in trace amounts in females, it has no direct role in the pulmonary physiology or the production of pulmonary surfactant, which is the critical deficiency leading to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm neonates.
Choice B rationale
Somatotropin, also known as growth hormone (GH), is a peptide hormone responsible for stimulating growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. Its main effects are on somatic growth and metabolism. Although many hormones influence fetal lung maturation indirectly, an altered secretion of somatotropin is not the primary physiological cause for the development of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
Choice C rationale
Surfactant is a lipoprotein complex produced by Type II alveolar cells. Its function is to lower the surface tension within the alveoli, preventing their collapse upon expiration. In preterm infants, especially those born before 34 weeks' gestation, the production of adequate amounts of surfactant is often immature or insufficient, leading to widespread atelectasis and the clinical picture of respiratory distress syndrome.
Choice D rationale
Progesterone is a major female sex hormone primarily involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis. It plays a crucial role in maintaining pregnancy by supporting the uterine lining. While steroid hormones are generally involved in fetal development, altered secretion of progesterone is not the main physiological factor causing the acute alveolar collapse seen in respiratory distress syndrome.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Astigmatism is an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, which causes light rays to focus unevenly on the retina, resulting in distorted or blurred vision at any distance. The primary treatment for astigmatism is the use of corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, not therapeutic eye patching.
Choice B rationale
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, occurs when the light focuses behind the retina because the eyeball is too short or the cornea is too flat, causing difficulty seeing objects up close. This condition is primarily managed by prescribing convex corrective lenses to help shift the focal point onto the retina.
Choice C rationale
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the light focuses in front of the retina because the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too steep, causing blurry distance vision. The standard treatment involves concave corrective lenses to diverge light rays and properly position the focal point on the retina.
Choice D rationale
Amblyopia, commonly called "lazy eye," is a reduction in visual acuity in one eye that results from the eye and brain not working well together, often caused by untreated strabismus or refractive errors. Patching the strong eye forces the brain to use the weaker, amblyopic eye, stimulating the development of the neural pathways necessary for clear vision.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Preterm newborns actually have a relatively larger body surface area compared to their body weight than full-term infants. This increased surface-to-mass ratio is a significant factor contributing to their rapid and excessive heat loss because a greater proportion of the heat-producing tissue is exposed to the environment, making it harder to maintain a stable core temperature.
Choice B rationale
The primary mechanism for nonshivering thermogenesis in newborns involves the metabolism of brown adipose tissue (brown fat). While a preterm newborn may have some brown fat, the amount is significantly less developed and less accumulated compared to a term infant, which, coupled with poor muscle tone, severely reduces their capacity to generate and maintain sufficient heat.
Choice C rationale
Preterm newborns are highly susceptible to cold stress because their central nervous system temperature control mechanisms are immature and inefficient. They lack the necessary muscle tone for flexion, have minimal subcutaneous fat for insulation, possess a thin skin barrier, and have inadequate brown fat reserves, all of which contribute to an inability to maintain a neutral thermal environment without external support.
Choice D rationale
Heat loss via evaporation occurs when moisture on the skin (like amniotic fluid, or from insensible water loss) converts to vapor. While the thin skin of a preterm newborn does lead to increased insensible water loss, the primary reason for placing them in an incubator is to counteract the combined effects of reduced heat production and increased heat loss via convection, radiation, and conduction, not merely to dry sweat. —.
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