Anatomy and Physiology II Practice Test

A condition called __________ _________ can develop if an Rh-negative mother produces antibodies against an Rh-positive fetus.

1. Erythroblastosis Fetalis

2. Hemolytic Anemia

3. Transfusion Reaction

4. Thrombocytopenia

The correct answer is: Erythroblastosis Fetalis

The correct term is Erythroblastosis Fetalis, which refers to a specific condition that arises when an Rh-negative mother’s immune system reacts to the Rh-positive blood cells of her fetus. This condition is a result of maternal-fetal blood incompatibility. When the Rh-negative mother is exposed to Rh-positive blood—often during childbirth, as Rh-positive fetal blood can enter the maternal circulation—she may produce antibodies against the Rh factor. If she becomes pregnant again with another Rh-positive fetus, her body can attack the fetal red blood cells, leading to hemolysis, anemia, and other complications. In contrast, Hemolytic Anemia is a broader term that refers to anemia resulting from the destruction of red blood cells, but it does not specifically pertain to the Rh factor incompatibility. A Transfusion Reaction occurs when a patient receives incompatible blood during a transfusion, which is a different scenario than that of Rh incompatibility during pregnancy. Thrombocytopenia involves a lower than normal number of platelets in the blood and is unrelated to the Rh factor or the immune response described in the context of fetal health. Thus, Erythroblastosis Fetalis is the correct condition that arises specifically in the case described.