What term describes the head returning to the position it entered the pelvis at the birth entrance?

• A. Restitution
• B. Extension
• C. External rotation
• D. Expulsion

Answer: (A)

Restitution describes the moment the fetal head realigns with the shoulders by returning to the orientation it had when it first entered the birth canal. After the head has rotated as it descended through the pelvis, delivering the head restores that alignment so the shoulders can rotate and pass through smoothly. This realignment is what clinicians observe as restitution, signaling that the head is in the correct position to continue delivering the rest of the body. After this, external rotation will typically help the shoulders align and the body to be expelled. For contrast, extension refers to the head turning and extending as it navigates under the pubic bone, expulsion is the final delivery of the infant, and external rotation involves the subsequent rotation of the head/shoulders as they move through the birth canal.