Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function, 7th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073403717
ISBN 13: 978-0-07340-371-7

Chapter 5 - Histology - Study Guide - Testing Your Comprehension - Page 175: 1

Answer

No, a woman in labor is not consciously contracting her uterus to expel the baby when she is told to push. The process of labor and childbirth involves a complex interplay of both involuntary and voluntary muscle contractions, but the contractions of the uterus itself are primarily involuntary. The uterus is composed of smooth muscle tissue, which is different from the skeletal muscles that we consciously control. Smooth muscles are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the uterine muscle, which is under the control of hormones such as oxytocin and prostaglandins. These hormones stimulate contractions of the uterine muscles in a coordinated and rhythmic manner during labor. When a woman experiences contractions during labor, they are involuntary and occur without her conscious effort. These contractions serve to push the baby down the birth canal. The woman may be directed to push during the second stage of labor, which involves voluntary actions, like bearing down and pushing as if having a bowel movement. However, this voluntary pushing complements the involuntary contractions of the uterus. The combination of both involuntary uterine contractions and voluntary pushing helps move the baby through the birth canal. So, while a woman may be instructed to push during labor, the primary force behind the expulsion of the baby is the involuntary contraction of the uterine muscles, not the conscious contraction of the woman's uterus.

Work Step by Step

No, a woman in labor is not consciously contracting her uterus to expel the baby when she is told to push. The process of labor and childbirth involves a complex interplay of both involuntary and voluntary muscle contractions, but the contractions of the uterus itself are primarily involuntary. The uterus is composed of smooth muscle tissue, which is different from the skeletal muscles that we consciously control. Smooth muscles are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the uterine muscle, which is under the control of hormones such as oxytocin and prostaglandins. These hormones stimulate contractions of the uterine muscles in a coordinated and rhythmic manner during labor. When a woman experiences contractions during labor, they are involuntary and occur without her conscious effort. These contractions serve to push the baby down the birth canal. The woman may be directed to push during the second stage of labor, which involves voluntary actions, like bearing down and pushing as if having a bowel movement. However, this voluntary pushing complements the involuntary contractions of the uterus. The combination of both involuntary uterine contractions and voluntary pushing helps move the baby through the birth canal. So, while a woman may be instructed to push during labor, the primary force behind the expulsion of the baby is the involuntary contraction of the uterine muscles, not the conscious contraction of the woman's uterus.
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