In which week, fetus have pink & soft skin and vernix caseosa disappears:
A. 34 week
B. 28 week
C. 40 week
D. 36 week
Correct Answer: C. 40 week
Explanation
This question is about late fetal skin maturation and the disappearance of vernix caseosa.
Key concept
- Vernix caseosa is a white, greasy, protective covering on fetal skin.
- As pregnancy advances toward term, the skin becomes pink, smooth, and soft, and vernix gradually disappears.
Correct answer: 40th week (Term fetus)
Explanation by weeks
28th week
- Skin is thin, red, and wrinkled
- Vernix caseosa is abundant
- Subcutaneous fat is still minimal
❌ Skin is not pink and soft
34th week
- Skin becomes thicker
- Vernix is still present in good amount
- Body starts storing fat
❌ Vernix has not disappeared
36th week
- Skin appears smoother and more pink
- Vernix begins to reduce, especially from limbs
- Still present in skin folds
❌ Vernix not completely gone
40th week (Term fetus)
- Skin is pink, smooth, and soft
- Vernix caseosa has mostly disappeared
- Only small amounts may remain in skin creases
✅ Best and correct option
Final conclusion
👉 The fetus has pink, soft skin and disappearance of vernix caseosa at the 40th week of gestation.
Other Options Details
Question: In which week does the fetus have pink, soft skin and the vernix caseosa disappears?
Correct answer: A. 34 weeks
Explanation of all options:
A. 34 weeks ✅ (Correct)
- By around 34 weeks of gestation, the fetal skin becomes pink, smooth, and soft due to increased deposition of subcutaneous fat.
- Vernix caseosa, which earlier protected the fetal skin, starts disappearing from most parts of the body, though small amounts may still remain in skin folds.
- This stage indicates near-term maturity of the skin.
B. 28 weeks
- At 28 weeks, the skin is still thin, reddish, and wrinkled.
- Vernix caseosa is abundant and covers most of the fetal body.
- Subcutaneous fat is minimal, so the skin does not yet appear soft or pink.
C. 40 weeks
- At 40 weeks (full term), vernix caseosa is usually almost completely absent, except sometimes in skin creases.
- The skin may appear less soft and sometimes dry or peeling, especially in post-term babies.
- This is later than the stage described in the question.
D. 36 weeks
- By 36 weeks, the fetus has well-developed subcutaneous fat, and the skin is pink.
- However, small amounts of vernix caseosa may still be present, particularly in folds like the axilla and groin.
- Complete or near-complete disappearance typically begins slightly earlier.
Conclusion:
The fetus has pink, soft skin with disappearance of vernix caseosa at around 34 weeks of gestation.
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Writer: Vandita Singh, Lucknow (GS India Nursing Group