3. Placentation and implantation Flashcards
In the earliest stages of pregnancy the anatomical link between mother and foetus develops through a series of phases. The sequence of events is…
INVASION of conceptus to endometrium
DECIDUALISATION i.e. endometrial remodelling
PLACENTATION i.e. placenta formation
What are the different changes that occur during endometrial remodelling in decidualisation?
Secretory transformation of the uterine glands
Influx of specialised uterine natural killer cells
Vascular remodelling.
Where is the embryonic portion of the placenta supplied from?
Outermost layers of trophoblast cells (i.e. the chorion)
Where is the maternal portion of the placenta supplied from?
Endometrium underlying the chorion.
Chorionic villi extend from…
Chorion to endometrium
How is each chorionic villi surrounded by a pool of maternal blood?
As the endometrium that surrounds the villi is changed by enzymes and paracrine agents.
What is the blood supply to the placenta?
Maternal blood:
- Enters placental sinuses/pools via uterine artery
- Flows through sinuses
- Exits via uterine veins
Foetus blood:
- Flows into capillaries of chorionic villi via umbilical arteries
- and back to foetus via umbilical vein
The umbilical cord connects foetus to placenta
Implantation and placentation timeline post ovulation?
Fertilisation occurs: 24hrs post ovulation
Transport to uterus: 3-4 days
Formation of blastocyst: 4.5 days
Attachement: 7-9 days
Day 6/7 the blastocyst leaves the zona pelucida and is bathed by uterine secretions for 2 days, what is the purpose of this?
- Progesterone prepares supportive uterine environment increasing glandular tissue
- Oestrodiol is required to release the glandular secretion
During attachment and implantation, what interactions occur between the trophoblast and maternal epithelial tissue?
- Syncytiotrophoblast cells flow into the endometrium
- Oedema, glycogen synthesis and increased valcularisation (decidualisation). The pregnant endometrium is now termed the decidua
What is the decidua?
The pregnant endometrium
Day 13 of implantation is also the…
time the woman expects her next period
What are the events at Day 13 of implantation?
- Syncytiotrophoblast cells erode through the walls of large maternal capillaries which then bleed into spaces. Giving a primitive placental circulation.
- Nutrition still depends on uterine secretion and tissues
- Breakthrough bleeding may occur
- Growth in the embryonic disk is slow and it remains very small
Placental development:
Syncytiotrophoblast forms ____ that
project into the ____ filled spaces
(chorionic villi). In the core of the villus is a ____ capillary loop - dilated at the tip (slow flow rate)
Embryonic placental structure develops over several weeks. The villi eventually becoming localised at the embryonic ___ and presenting a huge surface area for exchange of __, nutrients and
waste ______.
Maternal side of the placental circulation is ________ and is not functional until 10 – 12 weeks
First trimester embryo largely dependant on _____ tissues for nutrients and O2.
Placental development:
Syncytiotrophoblast forms villi that
project into the blood filled spaces
(chorionic villi). In the core of the villus is a fetal capillary loop - dilated at the tip (slow flow rate)
Embryonic placental structure develops over several weeks. The villi eventually becoming localised at the embryonic pole and presenting a huge surface area for exchange of O2, nutrients and
waste products
Maternal side of the placental circulation is restricted and is not functional until 10 – 12 weeks
First trimester embryo largely dependant on uterine tissues for nutrients and O2
Why is there limited embryonic growth in the first trimester?
Nutrition of the embryo is largely based on uterine secretion and tissues
In the first trimester, name 2 placental causes for pregnancy loss?
Lack of appropriate hormonal support (i.e. luteal phase defect)
Endometrium should be at least 8mm thick for successful implantation