8. Fetal Circ- Exam 2 Flashcards
what organs do not function until birth
lungs
kidneys
GI tract
Fetus obtains oxygen and nutrients via diffusion from the?
maternal blood
Wastes and CO2 are eliminated via diffusion into the?
maternal blood
where does exchange occur
Exchange occurs via the placenta
Inside the uterus
Attached to baby via the umbilical cord
Placenta –
way of communication between mother and baby
Site of exchange of nutrients/ wastes
Umbilical Artery –
carries blood away from the fetus to the placenta
Carries wastes and CO2
LOW O2 Content!
Umbilical Vein –
carries blood from the placenta to the fetus
Carries nutrients and O2
HIGH O2 Content
Fetal Capillaries –
Umbilical arteries and veins branch into these capillaries located inside the intervillous spaces in the placenta.
Intervillous Spaces –
Spaces filled with maternal blood from uterine arterioles. Drained by Uterine veins.
The placenta communicates with the mother’s cardiovascular system via
uterine blood vessels.
where does waste diffuse out of and what does it contain
Wastes diffuse out of the capillaries into the intervillous spaces containing maternal blood in the placenta.
Nutrients travel from mother’s blood vessels to the intervillous space via
uterine arteries
Nutrients travel from mother’s blood vessels to the intervillous space via uterine arteries into the fetal capillaries–describe the fetal hgb at this point
The concentration of hemoglobin in fetal blood is about 50% higher than maternal blood
- -Fetal hemoglobin has a greater affinity for oxygen than maternal blood
- -Can carry 30-35% more oxygen.
is there direct mixing of maternal and fetal blood through the placenta
THERE IS NO DIRECT MIXING OF MATERNAL AND FETAL BLOOD!!!
what are the functions of the placenta
Exchange of gases – CO2, O2, CO (diffusion)
Exchange Nutrients/ Electrolytes
Transfer of Maternal Antibodies
Hormone Production
describe diffusion of gases across the placenta
20-30mL O2/min extracted
Short interruption in blood flow can be fatal to fetus
Depends on delivery not rate of diffusion
what nutrients/electrolytes are exchanged
Amino Acids, Free Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, Vitamins
Exchange is rapid and increases as pregnancy increases
describe the placentas circulation resistance
very low resistance
when does Transfer of Maternal Antibodies start to take place
Late first trimester – fetus makes components of
complement
-Start of immunological competence
what immunoglobulin is primarily made? when is transfered to the fetus? what does it provide?
IgG
Transported from mother to fetus (at about 14 weeks)
Provides passive immunity
Newborns produce own IgG, but don’t reach adult levels until about what age
3
when does the placenta produces enough progesterone
to support pregnancy, should corpus luteum fails
4th month
that kind of hormones does the placenta continue to produce
Continues to produce estrogenic hormones
- Estriol
- Rises until end of pregnancy
Blood passes from the fetus to the placenta via? whats the sat?
2 umbilical arteries
Branch of the internal iliac arteries
Sat ~58%
Oxygenated blood returns from the placenta via? whats the sat?
1 umbilical vein
Sat ~80%