Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam

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What is vernix caseosa?

  1. A type of fetal bone structure.

  2. A thickening of the umbilical cord.

  3. A white cheese-like substance covering the fetus and newborn.

  4. A condition affecting the newborn's skin.

The correct answer is: A white cheese-like substance covering the fetus and newborn.

Vernix caseosa is accurately described as a white cheese-like substance that covers the fetus and newborn. This natural substance is composed of sebum, shed skin cells, and amniotic fluid. It serves several important functions: it moisturizes the skin, protects it from the amniotic fluid, and may even have antimicrobial properties that help prevent infection. The presence of vernix caseosa is especially prominent in fetuses during the late stages of pregnancy and can be observed on the skin at birth, providing a barrier that aids in the early days of life outside the womb. The other options do not pertain to vernix caseosa; one relates to anatomical structures of the fetus, another to the umbilical cord, and the last describes a skin condition, none of which characterizes this particular substance accurately.