How is the placenta structure suited to carry out its function?

How is the placenta structure suited to carry out its function?

Placenta is a structure that establishes firm connection between the foetus and the mother. From the outer surface of the chorion a number of finger like projections known as chorionic villi grow into the tissue of the uterus. These villi penetrate the tissue of the uterine wall of the mother and form placenta.

How does the placenta support fetal development What connects the placenta to the fetus?

The unborn baby is connected to the placenta by the umbilical cord. All the necessary nutrition, oxygen, and life support from the mother’s blood goes through the placenta and to the baby through blood vessels in the umbilical cord.

How does the placenta exchange materials?

The exchange of wastes and nutrients between maternal and fetal blood takes place by diffusion through the walls of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Maternal and fetal blood cells never mix, but instead remain separated by the placental membrane.

How does placenta develop?

In general, once the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall, the placenta begins forming. But the ball starts rolling several days before implantation. When you ovulate, an egg leaves the ovary to travel through the fallopian tube in hopes of being fertilized.

Why is it important that the placenta prevents the mixing of maternal mother and fetal baby blood?

It keeps the mother’s blood separate from the baby’s blood to protect the baby against infections. Towards the end of the pregnancy, the placenta passes on antibodies to protect the baby after birth. Alcohol, nicotine and other drugs and medicines can cross the placenta and damage your baby.

What attaches a fetus to the placenta?

Umbilical cord. A rope-like cord connecting the fetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord contains 2 arteries and a vein. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and waste products away from the fetus.

How does the placenta act as a barrier?

The placenta contains a complex network of blood vessels that allow the exchange of nutrients and gases between the mother and the developing fetus. It can act as a barrier between the mother and the fetus, preventing some harmful substances in the blood of the mother from damaging the fetus.

What process is responsible for the exchange of materials between the mother and fetus?

The placenta contains a complex network of blood vessels that allow the exchange of nutrients and gases between the mother and the developing fetus.

How is the placenta related to the fetus?

The placenta exchanges a wide array of nutrients, endocrine signals, cytokines and growth factors with the mother and the fetus, thereby regulating intrauterine developm … Placental adaptations to the maternal-fetal environment: implications for fetal growth and developmental programming

When does the capacity of diffusion in the placenta increase?

The capacity of diffusion in a placenta increases with gestational age due to factors including growth and differentiation. As the villi in the placenta develop, it causes an increases in their surface areas and a decrease in their thickness. As the villi mature their blood supply improves,…

How does the placenta adapt to the environment?

Recent studies show that the placenta is not just a passive organ mediating maternal-fetal exchange. It can adapt its capacity to supply nutrients in response to intrinsic and extrinsic variations in the maternal-fetal environment.

How is oxygen transferred from the placenta to the foetus?

Also putting into consideration how oxygen transfer across the placenta only occurs by simple diffusion, a large diffusion gradient provides an extra driving force. In conclusion, there are a number of different adaptions to the placenta and foetus that have resulted in an increase in oxygen availability.