Pregnant Physiology Flashcards
What is the site of fertilization?
upper third of oviduct
What is the site of implantation?
endometrium of uterus
What is a blastocyst?
Fertilized ovum becomes blastocyst.
- Inner cell mass: becomes fetus
- trophoblast: establishes implantation, then becomes fetal portion of placenta.
How are placental villi formed?
finger like projection of chorionic tissues
what happens at the inter-villus spaces?
exchange between fetal and maternal blood
what are the functions of the placenta?
- kidneys, digestive and respiratory yet NOT USED because mothers system does this.
- becomes TEMPORARY ENDOCRINE ORGAN
what 3 endocrine systems interact during pregancy? why?
maternal, fetal and placental hormones interact to enhance growth and development, coordinate time of birth and prepare mammary glands.
what hormones are released by the placenta? what is their critical role?
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estrogen, progesterone.
MAINTAIN PREGNANCY
why is the placenta unique? (2 reasons)
- transient
- hormones controlled by STAGE OF PREGNANCY (not EXTRINSIC CONTROL).
what is the main function of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)? What are 3 additional functions?
prolong the life of CORPUS LUTEUM (CL).
- stimulate LEYDIG CELLS in male tested to secrete testosterone.
- used in pregnancy diagnostic testing in urine (about 2 weeks after missed period).
- may cause morning sickness
What is the corpus luteum? what is its function?
Ovarian endocrine organ, produces ESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE until about 10 WEEKS POST IMPLANTATION
What hormones does maintenance of pregnancy depend on? Why?
Estrogen and progesterone and they maintain THICK, PULPY ENDOMETRIAL TISSUE and CEASE MENSTRUATION
(indirectly hCG as it maintains corpus luteum which releases these)
when does peak hCG secretion occur? when does it start to decline?
- PEAK: 60 DAYS after last menstrual period
- Decline: by 10th week post implantion
why doesnt placenta secrete estrogen in tjhe first trimester and instead produced hCG to stimulate corpus luteum?
Because placenta does not have the required enzymes for ESTROGEN SYNTHESIS in first trimester. Has them for PROGESTERONE yet does not produce enough in first 10 weeks.
does placenta secrete progesterone in first 10 weeks?
Placenta produces progesterone soon after implantation yet this is too small in FIRST 10 WEEKS to produce ENOUGH PROGESTERONE TO MAINTAIN PREGNANCY.