Rosh Women's Health Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Mastering Women's Health Certification!

During the delivery of a fetus in the cephalic position, the extension of the fetal head is indeed an active process that occurs during the second stage of labor. As the fetal head descends through the birth canal, it must navigate the pelvic inlet and outlet. Initially, the fetal head is typically in a flexed position, with the chin tucked towards the chest.

As the head reaches the pelvic floor, it begins to extend, which facilitates the emergence of the crown of the head. This extension is crucial as it allows the fetal forehead, face, and chin to present successively at the vaginal introitus, promoting a smooth delivery process. The extension helps in aligning the fetal head with the vaginal canal to minimize trauma and enhance the efficiency of the delivery.

The other options represent different movements and positions that may occur during labor but do not solely capture the active process involved in delivering the fetus as the head descends through the canal. For example, flexion occurs before extension and internal and external rotation pertain to movements that happen after the head has already started emerging. Understanding the dynamics of these movements is essential for comprehending the overall mechanism of labor and delivery.