Which structures should be visualized during an obstetric exam?

During an obstetric exam, the primary focus is on evaluating the developing fetus and key associated structures to ensure both maternal and fetal health. Visualizing fetal structures, including cardiac activity and the gestational sac, provides critical information regarding fetal viability, developmental progress, and gestational age. The presence of a heartbeat is a strong indicator of fetal health, and the gestational sac allows healthcare providers to assess the location and progression of the pregnancy.

In contrast, while the other options include important structures, they do not encompass the primary objectives of an obstetric scan. Ovaries and fallopian tubes are more relevant in gynecological assessments rather than obstetric evaluations, maternal organs and pelvic dimensions may be considered in certain contexts but do not directly contribute to monitoring fetal well-being during the exam. The placenta and umbilical cord are indeed significant, but they should be evaluated in conjunction with the fetal structures rather than in isolation, making the assessment of fetal cardiac activity and the gestational sac the most essential focus during an obstetric exam.