what structure connects the placenta to the fetus?

Learn about the different structures, functions and development of the placenta, which isan indispensable organ when it comes to fetal development during pregnancy.

This organ, that only appears when a woman is significant, allows for the nutrition and oxygenation of the fetus. The placenta also allows the fetus to eliminate its waste matter products. In this way, the placenta guarantees proper growth and well-being.

Evolution of the placenta

The development of the placenta goes through diverse phases during pregnancy.Information technology begins on the 5th day after fertilization, in the preimplantation evolution stage, and continues throughout the residual of pregnancy. The organ produces changes until the very end of gestation.

What structures are present in the placenta?

The placenta is formed of ii types of tissue: maternal and fetal. Fetal tissue includes the chorion, and maternal tissue includes the most superficial part of the uterine endometrium.

The amniotic sac, in which the fetus develops, consists of two membranes that are joined to i another.The amniotic membrane is in contact with the amniotic liquid and the fetus. The chorionic membrane, the outermost membrane, is in contact with the mother's tissue. When the amniotic sac breaks (when a adult female'due south h2o breaks), these membranes tear, and the amniotic liquid comes out.

The maternal part of the amniotic sac contains chorionic villus.These are structures that are in contact with the mother'southward endometrium, assuasive for blood apportionment between the female parent and her developing babe.

The umbilical cord,consisting of two arteries and a vein, connects the fetus with the maternal part of the placenta. Unlike adult circulation, in umbilical string apportionment, information technology's the arteries that send deoxygenated blood to the fetus to the placenta. At the aforementioned time, the vein is responsible for transporting oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to the fetus.

In general, the placenta is located in the fundus (the top of the mother'south uterus). However, sometimes it tin can insert itself in other areas.

The functions of the placenta

The placenta has multiple functions that are fundamental for the proper development of the fetus:

• It allows for the exchange of gases and nutrients between mother and fetus.
• Hormone product: Chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone and placental lactogen.
• The placenta protects the fetus from maternal allowed response, preventing the woman's body from rejecting the fetus as a foreign trunk.

Each of the above-mentioned hormones has a specific function:

1. Chorionic gonadotropin keeps the corpus luteum functional.The corpus luteum is responsible for producing progesterone and other hormones until the placenta is fully functional. This is the hormone that is detected in pregnancy tests.
2. The corpus luteum releases progesterone until the second calendar month of pregnancy. At this point, the placenta takes over the secretion of this hormone.Progesterone serves the synthesis of fetal corticoids and participates in the formation of decidual cells in the uterus. These cells are vital for the fetus' nutrition.
3. Placental lactogen stimulates the development and secretion of the mammary gland. Information technology also stimulates the growth of fetal organs and the weight of the placenta.

The protective function of the placenta is paramount.The embryo is a foreign trunk and contains proteins (synthesized from the father'southward genes) that are foreign to the mother'due south immune organisation. Therefore, the mother'southward body could decline the fetus every bit a response from her immune system.

Thanks to the product of immunosuppressive and immunomodulating factors during early on gestation,the placenta prevents this rejection from taking place.

Alteration in the placenta

Size anomalies

The placenta commonly weighs, on boilerplate, about 1.5 pounds. Placentamegoly refers to cases in which the placenta is abnormally large (greater than 1/half dozen the size of the fetus). Placentas tin too be abnormally small.

Morphological anomalies

Normal placentas are round and disc-shaped in form. Even so, variations in their shape may occur, such as the following:

• Bilobed placenta. The placenta is divided into i or more lobes.
• Succenturiated lobe. In this instance, i or more than lobes be separately from the placental disc, joined past vascular connections.
• Placenta spuria. This is similar to succentuariated lobe, but without the vascular connections.
• Circumvallate placenta. Here, a central depression appears on the fetal side of the placenta, surrounded past a whitish ring. The ring is a fold between both membranes.

Anomalies in uterine penetration

Abnormal insertion of the placenta takes place in the endometrium (known as decidua during pregnancy). At that place are several variations to this abnormal insertion, leading to various types of placenta.

• Placenta Accreta. The villus adheres to the myometrium (uterine muscle). Information technology's in contact with the muscle, but doesn't invade it.
• Placenta Increta. Here, the villus penetrate the myometrium.
• In cases of Placenta percreta,the villus laissez passer through the myometrium and reach the peritoneal serosa and may even penetrate the intestinal cavity and invade neighboring organs.

Implantation anomalies

Placenta previa

Placenta previa is a status that occurs when the placenta covers the opening of the mother'due south neck. It tin can even come to block the internal cervical orifice, impeding vaginal birth. There are different grades of placenta previa:

• Minor (grade 1): Only a small function of the placenta extends to the lower office of the womb.
• Marginal (grade ii): The placenta reaches the cervix, just doesn't comprehend it.
• Major (grade iii): The placenta covers the cervix, but simply partially.
• Major (grade four): The placenta covers the cervix completely. This is the most serious type of placenta previa.

Tumorous alterations

The post-obit tumorous alterations are very uncommon, but may also occur.

• Hydatidiform Mole. This consists of the development of a mass located in the placenta.The tumor is non-invasive, neo-plastic and non-malignant. The mass develops after the implantation of the fertilized egg and, in general, in absenteeism of a fetus. When this amending occurs, there are ordinarily high levels of the B-HCG hormone in the mother's claret.
• Gestational trophoblastic tumors. These alterations are relatively rare, but are very ambitious and serious.They tin be malignant or benign tumors, and develop from the placenta.

Vascular anomalies

Insufficient placenta tin can occur when the placenta doesn't fairly perform its functions. This may exist due to crumbling, placental infarction, among other factors.

One concluding note about the development of the placenta

If yous accept the opportunity, ask your gynecologist or the doula who accompanies you during childbirth to allow you to see your placenta.Information technology'due south an incredible organ that allows your infant to develop correctly. Its value is incalculable!

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Source: https://youaremom.com/pregnancy/development-of-the-placenta/

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