Why is the fetal blood system not continuous with the mother’s blood

system?
Answer:
 The blood pressure of the mother would kill the fetus as it is much higher than that
of the fetus.
 The blood group of the fetus may not be same as the mother’s.

What are the functions of the placenta?

Functions of placenta:
1. It allows oxygen and oxygen and dissolved food substances (e.g. glucose, amino acids,
minerals salts etc.) to diffuse from the mother’s blood into fetus’s blood.
2. It allows excretory products (e.g. urea and CO2) to diffuse from the fetus’s blood into
the mother’s blood.
3. It allows antibodies to diffuse from mother’s blood into the fetus’s blood.
4. It produces progesterone which maintains the uterine lining in a healthy state during
pregnancy.

What are the functions of the umbilical cord?

Answer: The umbilical cord attaches the fetus to the placenta. It contains:
 Two umbilical arteries that transport deoxygenated blood and metabolic waste products
such as urea from the fetus to the placenta.
 One umbilical vein that transports oxygenated blood and food substances (e.g. glucose,
amino acids) from the placenta to the fetus.

What are the functions of the amniotic sac?

Answer: The amniotic sac encloses the fetus in the amniotic cavity, which contains
amniotic fluid.
What are the functions of amniotic fluid?
Answer: The functions of amniotic fluid are:
 It supports and cushions the fetus before birth.
 It absorbs shock / shock absorber.
 It protects the fetus from physical injury.
 During birth, it lubricates and reduces friction in the vagina or birth canal.
 It allows the fetus to move freely during growth.
Gestation: The period from fertilization or conception to birth is known as gestation
period. This period varies – 38 weeks or about 9 months for humans.

Birth: The embryo eventually develops into a fetus, with recognizable human features.
At the end of the gestation period the muscular uterine walls begin to contract,
occasionally at first. With time, the contractions become more powerful and frequent.
This is called labor. The amnion bursts and the amniotic fluid is discharged. The cervix
dilates (opens), and the fetal head followed by its body passes through the vagina, then
out of the mother’s body. The umbilical cord is tied and cut, and scar forms the navel.

Birth control or contraception: Contraception or birth control is the prevention of pregnancy.

For examples –
Temporary method:
For men: Condom etc.
For women: Spermicide, pills, diaphragm or cap, IUD (intra-uterine device) etc.
Permanent method:
1. Vasectomy: In the male, the sperm ducts are cut and tied so that the semen ejaculated will have no sperm.
2. Ligation: In the female, the oviducts are cut and tied. This prevents the eggs from going to the oviduct
tube and being fertilized.

Sexual transmitted disease (STD): A disease transmitted by sexual intercourse is

called a sexually transmitted disease. STDs are caused by bacteria or virus.
For examples: Syphillis, AIDS etc.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome):

Causes: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is transmitted through sexual activity.

Signs and symptoms of AIDS:
1. Chronic or persistent fever
2. Severe diarrhoea lasting for months
3. Pneumonia
4. Brain infection
5. Cancer of the blood vessels

Transmission:
 Through intimate sexual contact with an infected person.
 Through infected blood
 From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

Prevention method:
1. Avoid intimate social contact with infected person.
2. Avoid getting infected blood into your bloodstream.
3. Infected women should avoid getting pregnant.