Which of the following is a heart-shaped pelvis?

Appeared in: DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015

Explanation

The Android pelvis is defined by its heart-shaped or triangular pelvic inlet.
This shape is more characteristic of the male pelvis and is associated with a narrower fore-pelvis and subpubic arch.
These anatomical features can impede the descent and rotation of the fetal head, making vaginal delivery more difficult and increasing the likelihood of requiring an operative delivery.

Option A: The Anthropoid pelvis has a long, oval-shaped inlet, where the anteroposterior diameter is greater than the transverse diameter.
Option B: The Platypelloid pelvis is characterized by a flat, transversely wide oval shape. It is the rarest pelvic type.
Option D: The Gynecoid pelvis has a rounded or slightly oval inlet and is considered the classic and most common female pelvic type, being the most favorable for childbirth.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Caldwell-Moloy classification of pelvic types as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the different pelvic shapes is crucial in obstetrics for anticipating potential difficulties during labor and delivery.
Clinical or radiological assessment of the pelvis (pelvimetry) helps the obstetrician or midwife to predict the course of labor and identify women at higher risk for cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD).
A woman with an Android or Platypelloid pelvis requires close monitoring for abnormal labor patterns (dystocia), as there is a higher likelihood of labor arrest.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on anatomical knowledge.
Identify the key term in the question: "heart-shaped pelvis".
Recall the four main pelvic types from the Caldwell-Moloy classification: Gynecoid, Android, Anthropoid, and Platypelloid.
Mentally associate each pelvic type with its characteristic shape.
Gynecoid is the classic round female pelvis.
Android is the heart-shaped male-type pelvis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 16-33

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 38-46

Practise the full DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015

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