Placenta

The placenta is formed from maternal part

which is decidua basalis and fetal part
which is villous chorion ( chorion
fondosum) .
 The placenta
• Its about 15 to 20 cm ,and about 500mg at
term ,
• Fetal surface is smooth and covered by
amnion which is reflected on the cord .
• Maternal surface is red and divided into 15 to
20 catyledons.
 Functions of the placenta
• 1- respiratory function – oxygen and carbon
dioxide pass by simple diffusion.
• 2- nutrition – water and electrolytes pass by
simple diffusion.
• Glucose pass by facilitated diffusion.
• Amino acid pass by active diffusion.
• 3- excretion –waste products of fetus as urea
pass by simple diffusion.
 Function of the placenta
• 4- production of the enzymes as
oxytocinase ,monoaminooxydase and
insulinase.
• 5- barrier function- fetal blood is separated
from maternal blood.
• 5- production of hormones.
 Placental hormones
• 1- protein hormones :-
• A- human chorionic gnodotrophin ( hCG).
• Is glycoprotein produced by cyncytoitorphoblast and
composed of tow subunits alpha and beta ,
• It rises after implantation to reach the peak at about 9
weeks gestational age and falls after 15 week
gestational age of pregnancy and maintained till term.
• Is use for the diagnosis of pregnancy and ectopic
pregnancy and follow up of the trophpblastic disease.
 Placental hormones
• B- human placental lactogen ( Hpl).
• Is polypeptide produced by
cyncytiotorphoblast
• Induce lipolysis so increase free fatty acid to
be a source of energy for Mather and fetus.
• Anti insulin effects.
• Mammotrophic and lactogenic effects.
• Can be detected by 5 to 6 weeks and rises to
36 weeks .
 Placental hormones
• C- Human chorionic thyriotropin (hCT).
• Its promote fetal thyroid development.
• D- hypothalamic and pituitary like
hormones as gonadotrophin releasing
hormones (GnRH), corticotrophin
releasing as ACTH and melanocyte
stimulating hormones.
 Placental hormones
• 2- steroids hormones :-
• A- estrogens :- is produced by cyncytiotorphoblast
from dehydroepiandroesterone sulphate (DHES) or
16alpha hydroxyl dehydroepandrosterone sulpate
( 16 alpha –OH- DHES).
• Estrogen excreted in urine as oestriol E3, oestradiol
E2 and oestrone E1.
• the urinary and serum oestriol is and important
index for fetal wellbeing.
• Also important in most physiological changes of
breast and genital tract.
 Placental hormones
• B- progesterone :-
• Is produced by cyncytiotorphoblast .
• Excreted in urine as pregnadiol .
• Its precursor for fetal adrenal glands to
produce glucocorticoids and mineral
corticoids.
• Its important in maintaining the uterus relax
during pregnancy.