Conception / Fertilization

• The union of a sperm and an ovum constitutes

fertilization and the beginning of conception
• The union of two cells will develop into a single
cell that becomes a zygot
• The zygot will multiply from 2 to 4 to 8 eventually
to become a sixteen cell call morula by
approximately day 4
• By day 4 the Morula enters the uterine cavity
and differentiates into the blastocyst
 Blastocyst
• A blastocyst is formed when the compacted
cells of the morula cavitate and become a
fluid filled space that’s divided into an inner
cell mass called embryoblast and outer cell
mass the trophoblast
• Embryoblast forms the fetus the amnion and
the umbilical cord
• Trophoblast forms the placenta and chorion
 Implantation
• Implantation is by the blastocyst around day 7
mostly at the upper posterior wall of the
uterus.
• At implantation the blastocyst will first be
appositioned next to the endometrium it will
then adhere to it and finally invade completely
• Once implantation has occurred the
endometrium will be called decidua.
• Decidua has increased secretory activity so as
to provide nourishment to the implanting
blastocyst
• There are different parts of decidua
• Decidua basalis is under the site of implantation
• Decidua capsularis covering the blastocyst
• Decidua paretalis lining the rest of the uterine
cavity
• Eventually due to the growing embryo the
parietalis and capsularis will fuse to form
decidua vera
Placenta development
• The placenta develops from 2 sources- the
decidua basalis and chorionic villi (chorionnic
frondosum)
• Placenta is a vascular organ that contains 2
circulations- a fetoplacental circulation and a
uteroplacental circulation
•
 Formation of the chorionic villi
• The essential functional elements of the placenta are very
small finger like processes or villi

• These villi are surrounded by maternal blood

• In the subustance of the villi, there are capillaries through

which fetal blood circulates

• Exchanges between maternal and fetal circulations take place

through the tissues forming the walls of the villi
• The villi are formed as offshoots from the surface of the
trophoblast

• As the trophoblast along with the underlying extra-embryonic

mesoderm constitutes chorion, the villi are known as
chorionic villi

• Chorionic villi are first formed all over the trophoblast and
grow into the surrounding decidua

• Those related to decidua capsularis are transitory and

degenrate and this part of the chorion becomes smooth and
is called chorion laevae
• The villi that grow into the decidua basalis undergo
considerable development

• Along with the tissues of the decidua basalis these

villi form a disc shaped mass which is called the
placenta

• The part of the chorion that helps to form the

placenta is called the chorion frondosum
 Formation of the chorionic villi
 Trophoblast proliferates rapidly and
differentiates into two layers:
 inner cellular cytotrophoblast or
Langhan’s layer
 outer mass of
syncytiotrophoblast
(multinucleated protoplasm with
no cell boundaries)
 Finger like processes of
syncytiotrophoblast extend through
the endometrium and invade the
endometrial connective tissue
 Implantation cont’d
• Small cavities, the lacunae
appear in
syncytiotrophoblast, and
get filled with maternal
blood, establishing
primitive uteroplacental
circulation
• The syncitotrophoblast grows into the endometrium

• As the endometrium is eroded , some of its blood vessels are

opened up and blood from them fills the lacunar space

• Each trabeculus is , initially, made up entirely of

sycytiotrophoblast

• Later on, cells of cytotrophoblast grow into the trabeculus ,

followed by extra embryonic mesoderm and blood vessels
giving rise to primary villus, secondary villus and tertiary villus
respectively
• Blood vessels of the villus establish connections with
the circulatory system of the embryo

• Fetal blood now circulates through the villi, while the

maternal blood circulates through the intervillous
space

• Intially cytotrophoblast that that grows into the

trabeculus does not penetrate the entire thickness
of syncytium
• At a later stage ,cells of the cytotrophoblast emerge through
the syncytium and spread out to form a layer that completely
cuts off the syncytium from the decidua and is called
cytotrophoblastic cells

• The villi that are first formed are attached on the fetal side to
the embryonic mesoderm and on the maternal side to the
cytotrophoblastic shell and are called anchoring villi
• Each anchoring villus consists of a stem (truncus
chorii); this divides into a number of branches ( rami
chorii ) which in turn divide into finer branches
(ramuli chorii )

• Anchoring villi give off numerous branches which

grow into the intervillous space as free villi

• As a result , the surface area available for exchanges

between maternal and fetal circulation becomes
enormous
Structures of the placenta
Function of the placenta
Placenta abnormalities