Prepare for the Paramedic National Registry Exam with comprehensive quizzes and study materials. Gain confidence with multiple choice questions, hints, and detailed explanations to excel in your exam.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


At how many weeks gestation is the fundus of the uterus typically just above the symphysis pubis?

  1. 8-10 weeks

  2. 12-16 weeks

  3. 20-24 weeks

  4. 28-30 weeks

The correct answer is: 12-16 weeks

The fundus of the uterus becomes palpable just above the symphysis pubis typically between 12 to 16 weeks of gestation. At this stage, the uterus is growing and starting to elevate from the pelvic cavity into the abdominal cavity. By this time, the size of the uterus has increased enough that it can be felt above the pubic bone during a physical examination. In earlier weeks, such as 8 to 10 weeks, the uterus is still primarily in the pelvic cavity, making it difficult to palpate the fundus above the symphysis pubis. As gestation progresses, the uterus continues to rise higher into the abdomen, so by the 20-24 weeks and 28-30 weeks marks, the fundus would be significantly above the symphysis pubis. However, the typical and first point of palpability above the pubic bone occurs within the 12-16 week range, making it the correct choice.