Placental development: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Placental development

Sample item

What is found within the mesenchymal core of tertiary (third-order) placental villi, connecting later with the embryonic circulation?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Fetal capillaries

In the third week capillaries differentiate in the villous mesenchyme and join the vessels of the embryo through the connecting stalk. Maternal blood bathes the villi in the intervillous space but is not inside them.

Option by option

  • A. Fetal capillaries (correct)

    Correct. Fetal capillaries form in the villous core.

  • B. Maternal lymphatics

    Maternal lymphatics are not present in the villous core.

  • C. Decidual stromal cells

    Decidual cells belong to the maternal basal plate.

  • D. Maternal spiral arterioles

    Maternal arterioles open into the intervillous space.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Fetal capillaries. In the third week capillaries differentiate in the villous mesenchyme and join the vessels of the embryo through the connecting stalk.

Why is "Maternal lymphatics" not the answer?

Maternal lymphatics are not present in the villous core.

Why is "Decidual stromal cells" not the answer?

Decidual cells belong to the maternal basal plate.

Why is "Maternal spiral arterioles" not the answer?

Maternal arterioles open into the intervillous space.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Placental development in OBG. Maternal blood bathes the villi in the intervillous space but is not inside them.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Placental development?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.