Pregnancy, parturition, late fetal dev Flashcards
What causes the early fetal acceleration in growth and when does this occur?
Change in support from histiotrophic to haemotrophic(Start of 2nd trimester)
How is the placenta able to support the fetus?
Haemochorial-type placenta where maternal blood directly contacts the fetal membranes.
What does histiotrophic mean?
Reliant on uterine gland secretions and breakdown of endometrial tissues
What is the role of the connecting stalk
Links developing embryo unit to the chorion
What is the function of the trophoblastic lacunae?
Large spaces filled with maternal blood formed by breakdown of maternal capillaries and uterine glands
Become intervillous spaces aka maternal blood spaces
Where is amniotic fluid secreted from and what is its role?
Secreted from amnion
-Begins to secrete amniotic fluid from 5th week – forms a fluid filled sac that encapsulates and protects the fetus
What forms the umbilical cord?
Allantois
-Grows along the connecting stalk from embryo to chorion
Becomes coated in mesoderm and vascularizes to form the umbilical cord.
What forms the chorionic villi?
Chorion(Outer fetal membrane)
Gives rise to chorionic villi – outgrowths of cytotrophoblast from the chorion that form the basis of the fetal side of the placenta
What is the structure of the amniotic sac?
2 layers
-Amnion on inside
-Chorion on outside
How are primary chorionic villi formed?
Cytotrophoblast forms
finger-like projections
through
syncitiotrophoblast layer
What are the phases of chorionic villi development?
Primary: outgrowth of the cytotrophoblast and branching of these extensions
Secondary: growth of the fetal mesoderm into the primary villi
Tertiary: growth of the umbilical artery and umbilical vein into the villus mesoderm, providing vasculature.
Describe the structure of the terminal villi microstructure
Describe the blood supply to the endometrium
Uterine artery branches give rise to a network of arcuate arteries.
Radial arteries branch from arcuate arteries, and branch further to form basal arteries.
Basal arteries form spiral arteries during menstrual cycle endometrial thickening.
How is the endovascular EVT formed?
Extra-villus trophoblast (EVT) cells coating the villi invade down into the maternal spiral arteries, forming endovascular EVT.
What is the purpose of spiral artery remodelling in the endometrium?
Conversion: turns the spiral artery into a low pressure, high capacity conduit for maternal blood flow.
How are amino acids transported across the placenta
Amino acids: reduced maternal urea excretion and active transport of amino acids to fetus
How is O2 transported across the placenta
Oxygen: Diffusional gradient (high maternal O2 tension, low fetal O2 tension)