Question

The process 'Amniocentesis' is the withdrawal of amniotic fluid during:
A. Menopause
B. Lactation
C. Gestation
D. Pregnancy

Answer 1

Hint: After conception, the embryo gradually grows in the womb. For its nourishment, a sac made up of amniotic fluid surrounds it. It is yellowish in colour and also acts as a shock absorber.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Menopause is the decline seen in the reproductive capability of females. It signals the end of the menstrual cycle that a woman experiences in her puberty. Basically, it is the opposite of menstruation, that is, onset of menses. It is experienced varying in ages between 45 and 50. It comes with several hormonal fluctuations. Great care has to be taken at this stage.

Lactation refers to the ejection or secretion of milk from mammary glands. It is induced from a female right after she delivers it with the help of the enzyme oxytocin. The preparation for this secretion though, begins at the 6th month of pregnancy. It is imperative for the newborn to consume mother’s milk for its better development since it is rich in antibody A and various other nutrients.

Gestation is the complete period of development of an embryo beginning from its conception till its delivery (inside mother’s womb). On an average, the total gestation period a woman experiences is 40 weeks from the last day that she undergoes menses.

Pregnancy is the whole process which results from copulation or formation of a zygote via in-vitro conditions. How this zygote grows and develops into a foetus ready to be delivered from the womb is defined by this term.

Amniocentesis is the extraction of some amount of amniotic fluid from the uterus. This is a good preventive measure against genetically diseased offsprings. This technique lets the parents know in advance about the health of the foetus or its health later as it grows. Unfortunately, this method is also used for sex determination.which has resulted in a number of female foeticides. Due to this, it has been banned in India.
Since the fluid is drawn at the time of pregnancy, the correct answer to this question would be D: Pregnancy.



Note: One should bear in mind the difference between gestation and pregnancy. Gestation refers to the time while pregnancy refers to the process; both however pertain to the development of the embryo.