Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Obstetrics and Neonatal
P2 · Neonatal Anatomy and Physiology
P2.v · Placental Transfer
Describe the transfer of substances across the placenta including the double Bohr and Haldane effects.
Written examination
SAQ history
Drug Response Variability — Placental Transfer
2 exam appearances
Explain the factors which influence the transfer of drugs across the placenta to the foetus.
30%
Placental Gas Exchange
2 exam appearances
Describe how gas exchange is influenced across the placenta near the term of pregnancy.
11%
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2025A · Day 1 · VIVA 4
This VIVA will examine maternal-foetal physiology and pharmacology. What is normal placental blood flow at term? How might foetal hypoxaemia occur in utero without a change in maternal oxygenation?
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2024A · Day 2 · VIVA 8
This VIVA will examine maternofoetal physiology and pharmacology. How is oxygen delivered to the placenta and then fetus? What factors influence that delivery? (Image removed from report.)
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2023B · Day 3 · VIVA 2
This viva will test your knowledge of foetal, placental and neonatal physiology. What determines the rate of gas transfer across the placenta?
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2022B · Day 3 · VIVA 2
This viva will explore your knowledge of gas transfer via the placenta, and foetal physiology and anatomy . Identify which curves belong to the major vessels involved in placental gas transfer. (Image removed from report.)
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2014B · VIVA 5
This Viva tested knowledge on obstetric and neonatal physiology. It explored the cardiovascular changes in pregnancy, factors that influence gas exchange across the placenta, the changes with the first breath and went on to aspects of humidity.
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2012B · VIVA 3
This Viva will examine maternal physiology and pharmacology. Write down the expected values in an Arterial Blood Gas for a pregnant woman at term. Subsequent discussion involved respiratory changes with pregnancy, including spirometry, pharmacology of drug transfer across the placenta, pharmacology of syntocinon and ergotamine.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.