Marina Farag

ISM Period 1
Bowen, R. "Implantation and Development of the Placenta." Implantation and Development of
the Placenta, 25 Mar. 2001. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.vivo.colostate.edu>

Early in gestation, the embryo is small and has correspondingly small

requirements for nutrients and for waste disposal systems.
The embryo gets rid of the waste by taking up the endometrial secretions and
dumping its metabolic wastes into the lumen of the uterus.
As the embryo grows and develops a vascular system, it establishes an efficient
interface between its vascular system and that of its mother that is used as a more
efficient method of obtaining nutrients and eliminating waste products. That
interface is the placenta.
The primary goal of the placenta is facilitating transport between mother and
fetus.
The placenta is also a major endocrine organ.
The placenta synthesizes and secretes progestin and estrogen steroid hormones.
Also produces a number of protein hormones.
Depending on the species, the placenta is the source of chorionic gonadotropins,
relaxin, and placental lactogens.
Placental hormones have profound effects on both fetal and maternal physiology.
All placentae carry out the same basic processes of transport and hormone
secretion.
Important differences in structure and function among families of mammals.
The placentae of humans, cattle, horses and dogs are all very different from one
another at both gross and histologic levels.
Differs in the ability to transport maternal immunoglobulins to the fetus.

This source discussed the basics of the embryo and how the placenta is formed after the
embryos needs for dumping its metabolic wastes in a more efficient way as soon as the
embryo develops a vascular system. This source also shows that the placentae of
different mammals have different structures and functions.