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Navigating the Study Packet Table of Contents | Overview | Framework | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10 | Authors/Acknowledgements | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E | Appendix F | Download PDF Version The Table of Contents has longer descriptions of these links.

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Lesson 5: Identifying the Physiology of Anatomical Structures

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe the physiology associated with the organ structures involved in pregnancy and childbirth, and
• Compare the physiology of the non-pregnant organ structures and the organ structures during pregnancy.

Step 1: Prior Knowledge

Every person has some understanding of physiology. You will draw on your own personal knowledge of physiology linked to pregnancy and childbirth.

Activity:

Using the list you made in Lesson 2, Step 2, now write what you think the function is of each structure.

	Structure	Function
Example:	ovary	expels the egg that will become fertilized

Step 2: Utilizing Resources

After drawing on prior knowledge, conduct research to confirm and expand your knowledge. Resources could include anatomy books, the AMA atlas, and Internet. A list of potential resources may be found in Appendix A.

Activity:

Using your resource(s), confirm or correct the physiology of each anatomical structure.

Step 3: Comparison

Using your resource(s), compare how the anatomical structures change during non-pregnant and pregnant times.

Activity:

Using the chart below, list the anatomical changes from the non-pregnant state to the pregnant state.

Anatomical Structure	Non-pregnancy State	Pregnancy State
Thyroid gland
Breasts
Nipples
Bladder
Wrists
Fingers
Ankles
Ovaries
Stomach
Uterus
Intestines
Cervix
Vagina
Rectum

Step 4: Internalizing Your Knowledge

Visualize yourself interpreting in an OB/Gyn setting. The physician is explaining to the Deaf patient how the uterus changes during the pregnancy. After this visualization, interpret the text in the box at left. You may want to videotape yourself.

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Activity: Practice Interpreting the Following Text

During the first few weeks of pregnancy, the fetus attaches to the thickened lining of the uterus. The uterus slowly enlarges to accommodate the growing fetus. By 12 weeks of pregnancy, the uterus causes the abdomen to show a bit. The uterus continues to grow to the level of the navel by 20 weeks and to the lower edge of the rib cage by 36 weeks.

There is normal vaginal discharge, which is clear or white. If the discharge is an unusual color or odor, you should call us. These may be signs of an infection. Some vaginal infections, such as trichomoniasis (a protozoan infection) and candidiasis (a yeast infection), are common during pregnancy and can be easily treated.

Listen to audio reading of this text for interpreting.

This text has an added pause between the paragraphs to allow for more processing time.

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