Gametes - Pregnancy Flashcards
Cleavage of early embryo
Early division of zygote into multiple cells without increase in size, partitions contents
Proportion of fertilised eggs lost before a woman finds out she’s pregnant
50%
Function of amniotic fluid
- Surrounds embryo
- Helps maintain a constant body temp for foetus
- Permits symmetric growth and development
- Cushions foetus from trauma
- Allows umbilical cord to be relatively free of compression
- Promotes foetal movement to enhance musculoskeletal development
Describe placentation
Development of placenta from edges of blastocyst
What is the placenta
An organ that forms from the chorion and the endometrium and allow the embryo/foetus to exchange nutrients and waste
Chorionic villi provide surface area for exchange
Nutrient and gas exchange happens without actual blood exchange
Umbilical cord - contains 2 umbilical arteries and 1 umbilical vein
overview of 6 major placental functions
Respiratory
Excretory
Nutritive
Endocrine
Barrier function
Immunological function
How is transfer of materials carried out in the placenta
Transport is facilitated by the close approximation of maternal and foetal vascular systems within the placenta
There is normally no mixing of foetal and maternal blood within the placenta
What substances travel by simple diffusion
Water
O2
CO2
Na+
Cl-
What substances travel by facilitated transport across the placenta
Glucose
Galactose
Substances that travel by active transport across the placenta
AAs
Ca2+
Fe
Iodine
Vitamins
Glucose
Substances that travel by pinocytosis
Albumin
Gamma globulin
Substances that travel via endocrine system across the placenta
hCG
hPL
Oestrogen
Progesterone
2 main sites for the exchange of water
Placenta
Non-placental chorion
What impact could sever/over hydration have on the foetus
Major impact on foetal homeostasis and could lead to fatal consequences
Electrolytes that travel by simple diffusion
Na+
K+
Cl-
Electrolytes that travel by active transport
Ca2+
Location of additional body water in pregnant women at term
How does the mother’s total body water change during pregnancy
Increase in the mother’s total body water // 6-8L is needed for plasma vol expansion, constitution of amniotic fluid and for placenta
Amniotic fluid - what is it composed of and what is its volume
Mainly composed of water - 500-1200ml
How does plasma vol change during pregnancy
Increases up to 40-50% above pre-pregnancy level
Osmolality decreases from 290 to 280 mosm/kg compared to non pregnant women
Water content of placenta
rate of supply of water to foetus
85% water - 500ml of water
Major organ supplying water to the foetus
12 weeks - 100ml/hour
full term - 3600ml/hour
Regulation of water in pregnant women (same as non-pregnant)
Placental Ca2+ transport
Ca2+ enters from maternal circulation via facilitated transporters (CAT 1 and 2), crosses the cytosol bound to proteins such as calbindin and is then actively extruded into foetal circulation by Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and PMCA proteins (Plasma Membrane Calcium ATPases)
consequences of maternal fluid intake on foetal wellbeing
AMNIOTIC FLUID VOL
Recognised as a predictor of foetal wellbeing and subsequently of poor perinatal outcome
Can be evaluated using the amniotic fluid index - AFI
AFI = in pregnant women with low amniotic fluid vol, maternal fluid intake may influence AFI
** potential benefit of increased water intake on amniotic fluid vol in women with low amniotic fluid vol