FFA Veterinary Science CDE Practice Test

Parturition consists of how many stages, with Stage 2 involving the expulsion of what?

1. Colostrum

2. Mammary glands

3. Cervix

4. Fetus

The correct answer is: Fetus

Parturition, or the process of giving birth, is typically divided into three stages. In this context, Stage 2 is specifically characterized by the expulsion of the fetus from the birth canal. This stage involves strong contractions of the uterus, which help push the fetus out through the cervix and into the world. The other options do not pertain directly to what occurs during Stage 2. Colostrum refers to the first milk produced by the mammary glands after birth, which nourishes the newborn but is not expelled during this stage. The mammary glands themselves do not play an active role in the expulsion process during Stage 2; rather, they are involved in the subsequent feeding of the offspring. The cervix is a part of the birthing canal that opens during labor, but it is the fetus that is expelled in this stage, not the cervix itself. Thus, the correct choice highlights the focal point of Stage 2's purpose within the larger context of parturition.