Placenta

Develops by the 3rd week

Formed by union of chorionic villi and decidua basalis
130 cotyledons – makes the maternal side of placenta look rough and
uneven
Weighs 400-600 grams
The rate of uteroplacental blood flow in pregnancy increase about
50ml/ minute at 10 weeks to 500-600ml/ minute at term
Placenta
• 1/6 the weight of the baby
• Calcium deposited in placenta which signifies maturity
• Placental grading – rating/grade
0 – immature
1 – slightly mature
2 – moderately mature
3 – placental maturity
Braxton Hicks Contraction
- Aid in maintaining pressure in the intervelous spaces
by closing uterine veins with each contractions
Function Of Placenta
1. Main source of nourishment
2. Provides oxygen and removes CO2 from fetal system
3. Maintain fetal fluid and electrolyte, acid base balance
4. Acts as barrier to some particles and organisms
5. Provides maternal immunoglobulin G that gives fetus passive
immunity to certain disease for the first few months after birth.
6. Exchange takes place between mother and fetus through diffusion
• Placental transfer is dynamic
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – when alcohol perfuses across the
placenta (unusual facial features, low-set ears, cognitive challenge
baby)
Respiratory System – beginning of lung function after birth
of the baby. Simple diffusion.
GIT – transport center, glucose transport is facilitated,
diffusion, more rapid from higher to lower. If mom
hypoglycemic, fetus hypoglycemic.
Excretory System – artery – carries waste products. Liver of
mom detoxifies fetus.
Circulating System – achieved by selective osmosis
Endocrine Function
• HCG production – first hormone to be produced during pregnancy
• Can be found in maternal blood and urine after implantation occurred (about
100th day of pregnancy)
• Estrogen – “hormone of women”
• Contributes to the mother’s mammary gland development in preparation for
lactation
• Stimulates uterine growth
• Progesterone – “hormone of mother’s”
• Maintains endometrial lining of uterus during pregnancy
• Reduce contractility of the uterus during pregnancy, which prevents
premature labor
Mechanisms by which Nutrients Cross the
Placenta
• Diffusion
• the process whereby the molecules from an area of higher concentration
move to an area of lower concentration until two substance are of equal of
density
• Gasses, water, and electrolytes
• Facilitated Diffusion
• A carrier moves the substance into and through the membrane
• Glucose
Placental Hormones
1. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG)
- Detected in urine and maternal blood shortly after implantation. It stimulates
the corpus luteum to maintain endometrium and is a basis test for pregnancy.
- On the 8th week of pregnancy, the placental begins to produce progesterone,
so the corpus luteum is no longer needed and the production of HCG
decreases. The mother’s serum will be completely negative for HCG within 1-
2 weeks after delivery
2. Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin (Human Placental
Lactogen)
- produced on the 6th week of pregnancy and increase in amount to
a peak level at term
- promotes mammary gland growth in preparation for lactation in
the mother, regulate maternal glucose, protein and fat levels so that
adequate amounts are always available to the fetus.
3. Estrogen
- contributed to the mother’s mammary gland development and
stimulates the uterus to grow. The precursor of estrogen is a compound
produced by the fetal adrenal gland and liver.
- when the fetus is distressed, the production of the fetal compound
is decreased, estrogen can not be synthesized and the level of estriol in
maternal estrogen will then be decreased
• Progesterone
- maintains the endometrial lining of the uterus
- responsible in the reduce contractility of the uterine musculature
during pregnancy which prevents labor. The reduce in contractility is
produced by a change in electrolytes such as potassium and calcium
which decreases the contraction potential of the uterus
FETAL MEMBRANE
• Membranes that surround the fetus and what give placenta shiny
appearance
• 2 layers
• Amnion – shiny, dual-walled sac, innermost part
• Chorion – fuses together as pregnancy progresses, outermost fetal membrane
Amniotic Fluid
• Forms within the amniotic cavity and surrounds the embryo
• 800ml – 1200ml
• Contains fetal urine, lanugo from fetal skin, epithelial cells and
sebaqueous materials
• pH = 7.2
• Specific gravity 1.005 – 1.025
• Oligohydramnios – less than 300ml
• Polyhramnios/ hydramnios – more than 2000ml
FUNCTION OF AMNIOTIC FLUID
• Provides a cushion against injury
• Protects the fetus from changes in temperature
• Protects the umbilical cord from pressure, protecting fetal
oxygenation
• Aids muscular development
• Excretion collection system
• The fetus drinks the fluid
UMBILICAL CORD
• Formed from amnion and chorion
• Initiate circulatory communication
• The rate of blood flow through an umbilical cord is 350ml/min at term
• 1 vein and 2 arteries
• Wharton’s jelly
Functions:
• Wharton’s jelly
• Gives the cord body and protects the vein and arteries from pressure
• Blood can be withdrawn from the umbilical vein or transfused into the vein
during intrauterine life for fetal assessment and treatment
• Smooth muscle is abundant in the arteries of the cord and the constriction of
these muscles after birth contributes to hemostasis and helps prevent
hemorrhage of the newborn
FETAL CIRCULATION
FETAL GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
• ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OR ORGAN SYSTEM
• Primary Germ Layers
1. Ectoderm – outer layer
2. Mesoderm – layer between ectoderm and endoderm
3. Endoderm – inner layer
ORIGIN OF BODY TISSUES
• Ectoderm
• Nervous system, skin, hair and nails, sense organs, mucous membrane of the
anus and mouth
• Mesoderm
• Supporting structures of the body (connective tissue, bones, cartilage, muscle
and tendons), upper portion of the urinary system (kidneys and ureters),
reproductive system. Heart, circulatory system and blood cells.
• Endoderm
• Lining of the GI tract, tonsils, parathyroid, thyroid, thymus glands, and lower
urinary system (bladder and urethra)