What type of influences on fetal heart patterns originate outside the fetus?

Fetal heart patterns can be influenced by various factors, and in this case, extrinsic influences refer to those that originate outside the fetus. The correct answer highlights that these influences can include maternal factors such as her position, medications, emotional state, and overall health. Additionally, external environmental factors, like sound or light, can also play a role.

Intrinsic influences, on the other hand, would stem from within the fetus itself, such as its own physiological processes, neurological control, and developmental stage. Maternal and neonatal factors are more specific subsets of extrinsic influences, but the term "extrinsic" encompasses a broader range of external variables. Therefore, understanding that fetal heart rate patterns are affected by a multitude of external factors emphasizes the importance of considering the maternal environment when monitoring fetal well-being.