What is the approximate weight of the placenta at term?

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

The average weight of a full-term placenta is approximately 500 gm.
This weight corresponds to a typical fetal-to-placental weight ratio of about 6:1, assuming an average term baby weighs around 3000 gm.
Standard anatomical measurements for a term placenta are a weight of 500 gm, a diameter of 15-20 cm, and a central thickness of about 2.5-3 cm.

Option B: A weight of 750 gm is significantly above the normal average and is considered abnormally heavy.
Option C: A weight of 1000 gm is double the normal average and is considered pathologically large (placentomegaly).
Option D: A weight of 250 gm is abnormally light for a term placenta.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy and physiological characteristics of the human placenta at term as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are responsible for examining the placenta after delivery to ensure it is intact and to identify any abnormalities. A retained placental fragment is a primary cause of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
Abnormal placental weight is a key clinical indicator. It alerts the healthcare team to potential maternal or neonatal complications that may not have been apparent before delivery, prompting necessary follow-up and care.
What if? If a placenta weighed 800 gm but the mother had no history of diabetes, the nurse should have a high index of suspicion for other causes like congenital infection (e.g., syphilis) or fetal hydrops, and ensure the neonate is thoroughly assessed for these conditions.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: it asks for a standard anatomical value ('approximate weight of the placenta at term').
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge base for normal pregnancy and fetal development.
Recall the standard average weight of a term placenta, which is a foundational fact in obstetrics.
The commonly accepted average weight is 500 grams.
Compare this recalled fact with the given options. The option '500 gm' is a direct match.
To confirm, consider the other options as deviations. 750 gm and 1000 gm are too heavy (placentomegaly), and 250 gm is too light (placental insufficiency), reinforcing that 500 gm is the correct normal value.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Anatomy and physiological characteristics of the human placenta at term.
Stem keywords: placenta, weight, term
Lead-in keywords: approximate weight

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E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur pp. 60-74, 51-62

Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.