Placenta & Fetal Membranes Flashcards
What are the Fetal Membranes?
- Chorion
- Amnion
- Umbilical Vesicle
- Allantois
The placenta is the primary site for what process?
nutrient and gas exchange between mother and fetus
What are the 2 parts of the placenta?
What do they develop from?
- A fetal part = develops from the chorionic sac
- A maternal part = derived from the endometrium
What are the functions of the placenta?
- Protection
- Nutrition
- Respiration
- Excretion
- Hormone Production
- Metabolism
- Endocrine secretion (hCG)
What is the functional layer of the endometrium that separates from the rest of the uterus at birth called?
gravid endometrium
what is the process of seperating the gravid endometrium from the rest of the uterus called?
parturition
What is the decidua?
- cells of the endometrial connective tissue which swell because of the accumulation of glycogen and lipid in their cytoplasm
- (provide nutrition for the early embryo)*
What are the 3 regions of the decidua and what do they form?
- *Decidua basalis** = forms the maternal placenta.
- *Decidua capsularis** = overlies the conceptus.
- *Decidua parietalis** = all the remaining parts of the decidua
As the fetus grows, which 2 decidual layers will eventully fuse together?
What is this called?
- capsularis will eventually fuse with **parietalis **
- they form the “decidua vera”
decidual cells are large pale-staining connective tissue cells.
What do they form in response to?
increasing progesterone levels in the maternal blood
The decidual reaction, refers to ….?
cellular and vascular changes in the endometrium as the blastocyst implants
Development of the placenta is characterized by what 3 things?
- fast proliferation of the trophoblast
- development of the chorionic sac
- development of chorionic villi
By the end of week 3, what structures are established?
the anatomic structures needed for physiological exchanges between mother and embryo
What (structure) is evident by the end of week 4?
a complex vascular network
Chorionic villi cover the entire chorionic sac until the beginning of what week?
week 8
As the chorionic sac grows, what area forms?
Why/how does this occur?
the** smooth chorion** forms
As the sac grows the villi associated with the decidua capsularis are compressed, reducing the blood supply to them, causing them to degenerate
Chorionic villi associated with what decidua layer increase in number, branch profusely, and enlarge?
What area does this form?
decidua basalis
this forms the villous chorion
How many hormones are produced by the placenta?
Name at least 1 and its function.
7 - 8 hormones
relaxin = helps cervix relax during vaginal delivery
Where do the primary chorionic villi begin forming?
in syncytotrophoblast and surrounding the embryo
The placenta grows in size and thickness until week ______?
week 20
What is the weight of a fully developed placenta?
300 to 700 grams
When is the decidua basalis is replaced by the fetal part of the placenta?
By the end of the fourth month
At the time of birth, the placenta will usually detach within ___________ after the baby is delivered.
The maximun time should be up to __________.
- 20 minutes
- 1 hour