Function of Placenta

In mammals, the placenta is defined as an organ that develops during the course of pregnancy.

 The placenta is responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the developing foetus in the mother’s uterus.

 The placenta is around 10 inches in length and 1 inch in thickness at its core. By the time your baby is delivered, it will have gained approximately 16 ounces (1 pound). 

Each side is divided into two parts: the side that is linked to your uterus and the side that is closest to your baby.

 The side that is linked to your uterine wall has a deep reddish blue colour, but the side that faces your baby is grey. 

It seems to be a disc of rough tissue that is densely packed with blood veins, which causes it to appear dark red when it is fully developed. 

The majority of the mature placental tissue is made up of blood vessels, which are found in abundance.

 Like the branches of a tree, they link with the infant through the umbilical cord and branch out across the placenta disc, connecting with the baby as they do so.

The umbilical cord is the cord that connects your baby to the placenta during pregnancy.

 While in the womb, the placenta and umbilical cord work together to provide oxygen and nutrients to your baby.

 Location of the placenta

Anywhere in your uterus can become a place for the placenta to develop. 

It develops wherever the fertilised egg implants into the uterine wall of the female reproductive system. 

The placenta can be found in a variety of situations, including:

The placenta grows on the back wall of your uterus, which is known as the posterior placenta.

It is the anterior placenta that develops on the front wall of your uterus that is closest to your abdominal cavity.

The placenta grows at the top of your uterus, which is known as the fundal placenta.

Lateral placenta:

 The placenta develops on the right or left side of the uterus, depending on your gender.

The placenta can shift up to 32 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the individual. As your baby grows in size, it’s usual for the placenta to rise and move away from your cervix.

The placenta’s characteristics are as follows:

The placenta in animals is split into two types: the yolk sac placenta and the chorioallantoic placenta. 

The yolk sac placenta is the most common form.

The placenta is disk-shaped and can grow to be up to 22 cm in diameter and length.

The placenta has a significant number of blood arteries.

The placenta is created by the chorion and the uterine tissue over the course of pregnancy.

The placenta performs a variety of functions.

The placenta is the organ that connects the foetus to the mother during pregnancy.

The transfer of nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the foetus, as well as the emission of carbon dioxide, occur throughout pregnancy.

The placenta is responsible for excreting the waste products produced by the foetus.

Placenta’s function

During pregnancy, the placenta plays an important role in keeping your baby alive and healthy.

 Blood from your body flows through the placenta and is transferred to your baby through the umbilical cord, where it delivers oxygen, glucose, and nutrients. 

Aside from that, the placenta may filter toxic waste and carbon dioxide from your baby’s bloodstream. 

The placenta is responsible for the transmission of oxygen and nutrients between your and your baby’s bloodstreams without the two bloodstreams ever coming into contact.

 It serves as your baby’s heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver until he or she is born.

As you approach closer to delivery, the placenta begins to transfer antibodies to your baby, which helps to boost the infant’s immunity. 

For the first six months of your baby’s existence, this immunity will remain with him or her.

During pregnancy, the placenta is responsible for the production of numerous essential hormones, including lactogen, oestrogen, and progesterone. 

You and your unborn child will benefit from the use of these pregnancy hormones. 

To give an example, during pregnancy, the placenta generates a hormone that decreases the formation of breast milk.

The placenta’s internal structure

The placenta is made up of tissue from both the mother and the developing baby.

The chorion is a component of the placenta that is still in the embryonic stage when the pregnancy is conceived.

Tissue called trophoblast is used to construct the chorion, which is created by the proliferation of cells following implantation.

The chorion is formed from the trophoblasts, which results in the production of a finger-like structure known as the chorion villa. 

The chorion villa is formed from the trophoblasts.

When developing, these villi are a component of embryonic trophoblast cells and are surrounded by maternal blood throughout their development.

There is a space between the maternal blood vessels and the villi that is referred to as the intervillous space.

Chorioallantoic placentation is seen in placental mammals such as humans, and it is created from the chorion and allantois throughout the course of a pregnant woman’s pregnancy.

The placenta in humans is around 22 cm (9 inch) in length and 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1 inch) in thickness, with the thickest portion located in the middle and the thinnest portions located at the edges of the placenta.

It weighs approximately 500 grams (roughly) on average (just over 1 lb).

Its surface has a dark reddish-blue or scarlet tinge to it that may be seen through it. 

An umbilical cord measuring approximately 55–60 cm (22–24 inch) in length is utilised to connect the foetus to the mother during pregnancy.

As well as having two and one umbilical arteries, this cord also has a single and one umbilical vein.

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is placed into the chorionic plate of the foetus (has an eccentric attachment).

It is possible to see a network of placental vessels extending over the placenta’s surface, where they further divide to form an intricate network of vessels that is covered by a thin layer of cells.

Conclusion

The placenta connects to the foetus through the umbilical cord, while on the other side, it attaches to the maternal uterus in a species-dependent manner, depending on the species.

 When the placenta is removed from the uterus following birth, a thin layer of maternal decidual (endometrial) tissue is expelled with it (this is frequently referred to as the maternal component of the placenta, which is inaccurate).

 In addition to being a distinguishing property of placental mammals, placentas can also be found in marsupials and some non-mammals, however at differing developmental stages.

It ensures that your kid gets enough oxygen and nutrition.

It cleans your baby’s system of hazardous garbage and carbon dioxide.

Produces hormones that aid in the growth of your child.

It allows you to pass immunity to your child.

It contributes to the protection of your child.