Placenta Flashcards
Placenta
-composed of fetal and maternal tissues
>Chorion and allantois (Chorioallantoic- major in eutherians)
>Chorion and yolk sac (choriovitelline- most domestic animals)
>Endometrium/Decidua
Chorionic villi
-Major functional units
-projections on the surface of the chorion that closely interact with maternal tissues
What are the individual cells of the villi?
trophoblast
Where do differences occur between placentas?
-endocrinological
-immunological
-metabolic communication between mother and fetus
Function of placenta during pregnancy
-transfer O2, CO2
-fetal nutrition
-excretory fucntions (water balance, pH regulation)
-hormone/enzyme production
-immunological functions
Placental transport
-Diffusion
-facilitated diffucion
-active transport
-receptor-mediated endocytosis
Diffusion in placenta
Gases, simple molecules, water movement
Facilitated diffusion in placenta
glucose moves with a chemical gradient
Active transport in placenta
-essential amino acids, water soluble vitamins, Na, K, Ca
**maintain higher concentrations in fetus than mother
Receptor-mediated endocytosis
-immunoglobulins (IgG), some protein, fat, viruses
Pig and Horse placenta
-Diffuse- chorionic villi located over the entire uterine luminal epithelium
-Epitheliochorial- epithelium of chorionic villi and uterine luminal epithelium are intact
Types of nutrition of placenta
-Hemotrophic
-Histotrophic
Hemotrophic nutrition
-movement of substances from maternal to fetal circulation via crossing of intervening layers of cells
Eg. active transport, facilitated diffusion
**All placenta types do this
Histotrophic nutrition
Uptake of uterine gland secretions, tissue debris, maternal blood cells via pinocytosis or endocytosis
-occurs in varied placentae but especially in epitheliochorial
Areolae
-Top: columnar trophoblast capable of endocytosis and pinocytosis and breakdown of absorbed materials for transfer to fetal capillaries
What nutrients are taken up by Areolae?
-proteins
-Uteroferrin (bi-iron protein)
-vitamins
-minerals
What form of nutrition is easily accomplished with areolae?
Histotrophic
Microcotyledons of mare
-both maternal and fetal circulation very close together
>use hemotrophic nutrition
-has smaller areolae linked with microcotyledons