Lecture 30 3/25/24 Flashcards
What are the two main roles of the placenta?
-transient organ of metabolic exchange
-transient endocrine organ
What are the two main components of the placenta?
-fetal component derived from chorion
-maternal component derived from modifications of uterine endometrium
What is the chorion?
outermost layer of placenta in direct contact with endometrium
What is the allantochorion?
fusion of allantois and chorion
What is the allantoic cavity?
fluid filled cavity containing liquid waste from the embryo that contributes to the umbilical cord
What is the yolk sac?
transient embryonic membrane the contributes to the umbilical cord
What is the amnion?
fluid filled inner layer that protects the embryo
Which structures give rise to the chorion and amnion?
-trophoblast
-primitive endoderm and mesoderm
What are the components of the blastocyst?
-inner cell mass
-trophoblast
-blastocoele
What happens to the yolk sac as the conceptus develops?
it regresses in size
What is the functional unit of the fetal placenta?
chorionic villus
What is the role of the chorionic villus?
to protrude away from the chorion and interdigitate with the uterine endometrium
What are the characteristics of diffuse placentas?
-many closely spaced villi distributed over the entire surface of the chorion
-uniform distribution
-pigs and mares
Why is the mare unique, despite being classified as having a diffuse placenta?
the chorionic villi are concentrated in specialized microzones known as microcotyledons
What are the characteristics of zonary placentas?
-band-like zone of chorionic villi
-prominent, broad transfer zone that allows for exchange
-pigmented zone consisting of small hematomas that allows for iron transport
-transparent zone with poor vascularity that allows for absorption of materials from uterine lumen
-dogs and cats
What are the characteristics of cotyledonary placentas?
-numerous button-like structures called cotyledons
-placentome consists of a fetal cotyledon and a maternal cotyledon from a caruncle
-ruminants
What are the characteristics of discoid placentas?
-form a regionalized disc
-one or two distinct adjacent discs
-primates and rodents
What are the characteristics of an epitheliochorial placenta?
-least intimate
-both endometrial epithelium and chorionic villi epithelium are intact
-six layers of tissue
-ruminants, sows, mares
How do ruminant epitheliochorial/syndesmochorial placentas differ?
-endometrial epithelium transiently erodes and regrows
-allows for intermittent exposure to maternal capillaries
-contain binucleate giant cells
What are the functions of the binucleate giant cells in ruminant placentas?
-transfer complex molecules from fetal to maternal placenta
-secrete placental lactogen and pregnancy specific protein B
-site of steroidogenesis