Unit 4 - Female Repro 3 Flashcards
What should the normal exchange portion of the placenta look like?
fine shag carpet
What should the normal non-exchange portion of the placenta look like?
saran wrap with vessels (smooth and clear)
What does the non-exchange placenta look like in cases of placentitis?
It becomes thickened, granular, and may be covered by an exudate
What do the chorionic villi look like in cases of placentitis?
they are thickened, covered by an exudate, and cotyledons may become cupped
What are amniotic plaques and are they of pathologic significance?
they are foci of squamous epithelium on the internal surface of the amnion that are of no pathologic significance
What does placental mineralization appear as?
white streaks or mats in the amnion and allantois
Is placental mineralization of patholofic significance?
no
What is adventicious placentation?
the development of intercotyledonary placentation and accessory cotyledons due to inadequate placental exchange
What are the potential causes of adventicious placentation?
previous metritis, aggressive cleaning of retained placenta, and consequence of ongoing placentitis
What does adventicious placentation look like?
marked increase in the size of cotyledons and primitive villous placentation between the cotyledons with apparent fusion of cotyledons
What is the most common cause of abortion?
non-infecitous (2/3) - infectious is the other third
What are some non-infectious causes of abortion?
genetic, hormonal, nutritional, toxic, traumatic, metabolic, and hypoxic
What are some infectious causes of abortion?
Brucella, Leptospira, herpesvirus, Aspergillus, Neospora, and toxoplasma
What are the mechanisms of fetal infection?
via maternal blood, via open cervix, and due to chronic endometritis
What is the most common mechanism of fetal infection?
via the maternal bloodstream
How does a fetus become infected via the open cervix?
due to relaxation of the cervix during pregnancy or the organism is instilled during coitis
How does a fetus become infected when the dam has chronic endometritis?
as the fetoplacenta unit enlarges it changes the dynamics in the uterus and allows the organism to proliferate and cause abortion
What is the pathogenesis of fetal infection via the maternal bloodstream?
- The dam is infected 2. the infection enters the bloodstream 3. the agent reaches the fetus during the period of viremia/bacteremia 4. the fetus becomes infected 5. In utero death and abortion often occurs 3-6 weeks after infection of the dam