developing placenta

Question 1

what is the placenta

Answer 1

a temporary organ formed from the foetal and maternal tissue in the first 3 months

Question 2

5 functions

Answer 2

nutrients, excretory, endocrine, immune, respiratory

Question 3

nutrients

Answer 3

transports glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals from mother to the foetal blood

Question 4

excretory

Answer 4

transports urea, uric acid, ammonia and creatinine from foetal blood to the mothers

Question 5

endocrine

Answer 5

secretes hormones necessary for pregnancy

Question 6

immune

Answer 6

transports antibodies from mother to the fetus

Question 7

respiratory

Answer 7

oxygen goes from mother to fetus

CO2 goes from fetus to mother

Question 8

development of the placenta

Answer 8

small branching fingerlike projections (chorionic villi) grow from the chorion into the endometrium and contain blood vessels (helps anchor the placenta)

as villi penetrate the endometrium, they become surrounded by pools of the mothers blood

foetal and maternal blood do not mix, a few layers of cells seperate them and transport occurs through osmosis, diffusion and active transport

placenta is attached to the foetus via umbilical cord which contains 2 umbilical arteries (blue and deoxygenated) and an umbilical vein (red and oxygenated)

Question 9

what blood does the 2 umbilical arteries contain

Answer 9

blue and deoxygenated

Question 10

what blood does the umbilical vein contain

Answer 10

red and oxygenated