FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

When performing a labor assessment, which term would you use to describe a fetus positioned with the head down?

1. Breech

2. Transverse

3. Vertex

4. Oblique

The correct answer is: Vertex

The term that describes a fetus positioned with the head down is "vertex." In obstetrics, the vertex presentation is the most common fetal presentation for delivery, where the top of the baby's head is the part that enters the birth canal first. This position is considered ideal for a vaginal delivery because it allows for the best alignment with the mother's pelvis. In contrast, breech refers to a position where the fetus is positioned buttocks or feet first, which can complicate delivery. Transverse indicates that the fetus is lying horizontally across the uterus, which typically prevents a vaginal birth until the baby turns. Oblique describes a position where the fetus is positioned diagonally within the uterus, which is also not ideal for delivery. Therefore, vertex is the appropriate term used to describe a head-down position, crucial for understanding labor assessments and potential delivery methods.