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* Lecture Archive: [https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php?title=Lecture_-_Placenta_Development&oldid=143128 2014 lecture] | [[Media:ANAT2341_Lecture_8_-_2014_Placenta_Development.pdf|2014 PDF]]
* Lecture Archive: [https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php?title=Lecture_-_Placenta_Development&oldid=243337 2015] | [[Media:2015ANAT2341_Lecture_8_-_Placenta_Development.pdf|2015 PDF]][https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php?title=Lecture_-_Placenta_Development&oldid=143128 2014 lecture] | [[Media:ANAT2341_Lecture_8_-_2014_Placenta_Development.pdf|2014 PDF]]
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| The following chapter links only work with a UNSW connection.
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* [http://www.unsw.eblib.com.wwwproxy0.library.unsw.edu.au/patron/Read.aspx?p=1430154&pg=131 Chapter 7 - Placenta and Fetal Membranes]
* [http://www.unsw.eblib.com.wwwproxy0.library.unsw.edu.au/patron/Read.aspx?p=1430154&pg=131 Chapter 7 - Placenta and Fetal Membranes]
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* Chapter 2 - Second Week: Becoming Bilaminar and Fully Implanting
* Chapter 2 - Second Week: Becoming Bilaminar and Fully Implanting

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Introduction

Spiegel and Casseri: De formato foetu liber singularis (Dedication dated 1626).

This lecture is an introduction to the development and functions of the placenta.


The placenta (Greek, plakuos = flat cake) named on the basis of this organs appearance. The placenta a mateno-fetal organ which begins developing at implantation of the blastocyst and is delivered with the fetus at birth. Only recently have we begun to understand the many different functions this organ carries out in addition to its role in embryonic nutrition. This lecture follows on the concepts of cardiovascular development covered in the previous lecture.


The placenta and placental blood at birth has recently been seen as a new source for stem cells in bone marrow replacement therapy in many diseases. (More? Stem Cells)


Lecture - Print PDF

Lecture Objectives

Historic - Semi-diagramatic sagittal section of human uterus containing an embryo of about five weeks
Uterine and placental vasculature
  • Understanding of placental villi development
  • Understanding of placental structure
  • Understanding of placental functions
  • Brief understanding of placental abnormalities

Lecture Resources

Movies
Week2 001 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Week 2 - Implant
Page | Play
Chorion 001 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Week 2 - Bilaminar
Page | Play
References
UNSW Embryology logo
Hill, M.A. (2020). UNSW Embryology (20th ed.) Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au
Placenta Links: placenta | Lecture - Placenta | Lecture Movie | Practical - Placenta | implantation | placental villi | trophoblast | maternal decidua | uterus | endocrine placenta | placental cord | placental membranes | placenta abnormalities | ectopic pregnancy | Stage 13 | Stage 22 | placenta histology | placenta vascular | blood vessel | cord stem cells | 2013 Meeting Presentation | Placenta Terms | Category:Placenta
Historic Embryology - Placenta 
1883 Embryonic Membranes | 1907 Development Atlas | 1909 | 1910 Textbook | 1917 Textbook | 1921 Textbook | 1921 Foetal Membranes |1921 human | 1921 Pig implantation | 1922 Single placental artery | 1923 Placenta Review | 1939 umbilical cord | 1943 human and monkey | 1944 chorionic villus and decidua parietalis | 1946 placenta ageing | 1960 first trimester placenta | 1960 monkey | 1972 Placental circulation | Historic Disclaimer
Textbook cover Larsen's human embryology 5th edn.
Moore, K.L., Persaud, T.V.N. & Torchia, M.G. (2015). The developing human: clinically oriented embryology (10th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.
The following chapter links only work with a UNSW connection.
Schoenwolf, G.C., Bleyl, S.B., Brauer, P.R., Francis-West, P.H. & Philippa H. (2015). Larsen's human embryology (5th ed.). New York; Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. The following chapter links only work with a UNSW UNSW Library subscription
  • Chapter 2 - Second Week: Becoming Bilaminar and Fully Implanting
  • Chapter 13 - Development of the Vasculature

Nutrition

Fetal Membranes

Villi Stages

Implanting human conceptus 01.jpg Gray0032.jpg

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Primary villi

Week 2 - first stage of chorionic villi development, trophoblastic shell cells (syncitiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts) form finger-like extensions into maternal decidua.

Gray0037.jpg

Secondary villi

Week 3 - second stage of chorionic villi development, extraembryonic mesoderm grows into villi, covers entire surface of chorionic sac.

Gray0031.jpg

Tertiary villi

Week 4 - third stage of chorionic villi development, mesenchyme differentiates into blood vessels and cells, forms arteriocapillary network, fuse with placental vessels, developing in connecting stalk. Basal region will form chorionic plate.

Chorionoic Villi Location

Gray0034.jpg

Originally cover entire chorionic surface and become restricted to decidua basalis region forming 2 regions:

Week 4 - Carnegie stage 11
Embryo-membranes stage 11.jpg
  • Frondosum - "leafy" where villi are mainly located
  • Capsularis - smooth chorion, where villi are absent or not abundant
Week 5 - Carnegie stage 14
Stage 14 - Lateral View

Stage14 bf18.jpg

 ‎‎Mobile | Desktop | Original

Stage 14 | Embryo Slides
Stage 14 - Ventral View

Stage14 bf21.jpg

 ‎‎Mobile | Desktop | Original

Stage 14 | Embryo Slides
Week 7 - Carnegie stage 18)
Stage18 bf10.jpg

Villi Terms

Early placental structure
  • primary villi - week 2, first stage of chorionic villi development, trophoblastic shell cells (syncitiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts) form finger-like extensions into maternal decidua.
  • secondary villi - week 3, second stage of chorionic villi development, extraembryonic mesoderm grows into villi, covers entire surface of chorionic sac.
  • tertiary villi third stage of chorionic villi development, mesenchyme differentiates into blood vessels and cells, forms arteriocapillary network, fuse with placental vessels, developing in connecting stalk
  • stem villi - or anchoring villi, cytotrophoblast cells attached to maternal tissue.
  • branched villi - or terminal villi, grow from sides of stem villi, region of main exchange, surrounded by maternal blood in intervillous spaces.
  • terminal villi - not active outgrowths caused by proliferation of the trophoblast. Passive protrusions induced by capillary coiling due to growth of the fetal capillaries within the mature intermediate villi (third trimester).
  • chorionic plate - region of membrane at the base of the villi through which placental arteries and vein passes.

Placenta at Birth

Fetus in utero, between fifth and sixth months
  • Placenta (Greek, plakuos = flat cake)
  • embryonic/maternal organ
  • villous chorion/decidua basalis
  • continuous with amniotic and chorionic sacks

Dimensions

  • at birth - discoid up to 20cm diameter and 3 cm thick (term) and weighs 500-600 gm
  • Shapes - accessory placenta, bidiscoid, diffuse, horseshoe
  • maternal and embryonic surface, both delivered at parturition
    • retention may cause uterine hemorrhage

Placenta term anatomy 01.jpg

Fetal Surface

  • umbilical cord attachment - cord 1-2 cm diameter, 30-90cm long
  • covered with amniotic membrane and attached to chorionic plate
  • umbilical vessels branch into chorionic vessels which anastomose

Maternal Surface

  • Cotyledons - form cobblestone appearance, originally placental septa formed grooves.
  • covered with maternal decidua basalis

Placental Classification

Dog placenta (E35-38)

Classification of placenta is on the basis of histological (microscopic) structural organization and layers between fetal and maternal circulation, giving 3 main groups:

  • Haemochorial - placenta where the chorion comes in direct contact with maternal blood (human)
  • Endotheliochorial - maternal endometrial blood vessels are bare to their endothelium and these comes in contact with the chorion. (dogs, cats)
  • Epitheliochorial - maternal epithelium of the uterus comes in contact with the chorion.considered as primitive (pigs, cows)

The presence of these three differing types of placenta have also been used to describe the pattern mammalian evolution. See also Placental Layers

Haemomonochorial human placenta EM01.jpg

Haemochorial human placenta

Placental Types

Mouse placenta
  • Discoid in humans, mice, insectivores, rabbits, rats, and monkeys.
  • Zonary in dogs, cats, bears and seals.
  • Cotyledenary in cows, deer, goat, and giraffe.
  • Diffuse in horses, pigs, camels, lemurs, opossums, kangaroos, and whales


Links: Comparative Placentation


Chorionoic Villi Trimester Development

  • Trimester 1 and 2 - immature intermediate villi, developmental steps towards the stem villi.
  • Trimester 3 - mature intermediate villi develop during the last trimester, produce numerous terminal villi.
    • Terminal villi are not active outgrowths caused by trophoblast proliferation, passive protrusions induced by capillary coiling due to excessive longitudinal growth of the fetal capillaries within the mature intermediate villi.
    • Capillary bed arrangement in the terminal villi can vary from simple U-like loops to branched network, due to capillary elongation and sprouting.(Data from PMID 2327595)


Scheme of placental circulation

Placental Cord Blood Vessels

Placental cord vessels 01.jpgPlacental cord cross-section.jpg

  • initially in the connecting stalk (then umbilical cord) anastomose in chorion
    • extend maternally - toward chorionic villi
    • extend embryonically - to the sinus venosus and dorsal aorta
  • Arteries - paired, carry deoxygenated blood (from dorsal aorta) and waste products to the placental villi
  • Veins - paired initially then only left at end of embryonic period, carry oxygenated blood to the embryo (sinus venosus)

Placental Function

Fetal blood flow liver and brain
  • 4 layers separate maternal and fetal blood: syncitiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, villi connective tissue and fetal capillary endothelium
  • 3 main functions: metabolism, transport and endocrine

Placental Metabolism

Synthesizes: glycogen, cholesterol, fatty acids

  • provides nutrient and energy

Placental Transport

Placenta oxygen exchange levels.jpg

gases and nutrition

  • oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide
  • water, glucose, vitamins
  • hormones, mainly steroid not protein
  • electrolytes
  • maternal antibodies
  • waste products - urea, uric acid, bilirubin
  • drugs and their metabolites (fetal drug addiction)
  • infectious agents (cytomegalovirus, rubella, measles, microorganisms)

Placental Endocrine

Trophoblast cell hCG
  • Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) - like leutenizing hormone, supports corpus luteum
  • Human chorionic somatommotropin (hCS) (or placental lactogen) - hormone level increases in maternal blood through pregnancy, decreases maternal insulin sensitivity (raising maternal blood glucose levels and decreasing maternal glucose utilization) aiding fetal nutrition ("anti-insulin" function)
  • Human chorionic thyrotropin (hCT) - Peptide placental hormone, similar to anterior pituitary released thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which along with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is thought to act on maternal thyroid. There is little recent research published on this hormone, its level and activities.
  • Human chorionic corticotropin (hCACTH) - placental hormone thought to have corticotropin (ACTH)-like activity, increasing maternal cortisol levels.
  • Steroid Hormones
    • progestins - progesterone, support of the endometrium and suppress uterine smooth muscle contractility.
    • estrogens - estriol, stimulate growth of the myometrium and mammary gland development.
    • both hormones support maternal endometrium
  • Relaxin - Humans high levels early in pregnancy than at birth promotes angiogenesis probably plays a role in development of the uterus/ placenta than in the birth process

Fetal Placenta

Villi cross-section

Trophoblast cells are the major source of placental hormones.

Placental growth hormone (PGH) is mainly expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast cells (PGH differs from pituitary derived growth hormone by 13 amino acids). extravillous cytotrophoblast - arise from anchoring villi invade the uterine spiral arteries, generating fibrinoid material and endovascular trophoblastic cells. syncytiotrophoblast

Fetal Blood Vessels At least 2 phases of development during pregnancy driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF):

  1. Initially cytotrophoblasts are the cellular stimulus to vasculogenesis and angiogenesis.
  2. Later Hofbauer (lacental villi macrophages of mesenchymal origin) and stromal cells take over the stimulation of blood vessel development.

Placenta Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) After implantation cells within the developing placenta (syncitiotrophoblasts) synthesize and secrete Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) into the maternal bloodstream. The main function of serum hCG is to maintain the corpus luteum in the maternal ovary and therefore maintain the early pregnancy, that is block the menstrual cycle. Later the placenta itself supports the pregnancy.

Maternal Placenta

Uterine and placental vasculature
Placenta spiral artery conversion

Fibrinoid - said to exist as 2 forms of extracellular matrix:

  1. Fibrin-type fibrinoid is a maternal blood-clot product which replaces degenerative syncytiotrophoblast
  2. Matrix-type fibrinoid is secreted by invasive extravillous trophoblast cells.

Fibrinoid layer (Nitabuch's layer) is thought to act to prevent excessively deep implantation.

Decidualization - process of endometrial stromal cells (fibroblast-like) change in morphology (polygonal cells) and protein expression and secretion (specific decidual proteins: prolactin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, tissue factor, interleukin-15, and VEGF).

  1. Estrogen and progesterone - receptive phase, luminal and glandular epithelial cells change in preparation for blastocyst adplantation.
  2. Human Chorionic gonadotropin - luminal epithelium endoreplication leading to epithelial plaque formation.
  3. Human Chorionic gonadotropin - trophoblast invasion and decidualization of human stromal fibroblasts.

Artery Dilatation - due to extravillous trophoblast cells invading uterine wall and maternal spiral arteries replacing both smooth muscle with fibrinoid material and part of vessel endothelium. There is also a proliferation of maternal blood vessels.

Other changes

  • Endoreplication - rounds of nuclear DNA replication without intervening cell or nuclear division (mitosis).
  • Cytokines - of maternal origin also act on placental development.
  • Natural Killer (NK) cells - 30% of all the decidual cells towards the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. These lymphocytes are present in the maternal decidua in large numbers (70%, normal circulating blood lymphocytes 15%) close to the extravillous trophoblast cells. Have a cytolytic potential against virus-infected and tumor-transformed cells.

Placental Abnormalities

Placental abnormalities
Historic model of placenta previa
Hydatidiform mole pathology
  • Placenta Accreta - abnormal adherence, with absence of decidua basalis. The incidence of placenta accreta also significantly increases in women with previous cesarean section compared to those without a prior surgical delivery.
  • Placenta Increta - occurs when the placenta attaches deep into the uterine wall and penetrates into the uterine muscle, but does not penetrate the uterine serosa. Placenta increta accounts for approximately 15-17% of all cases.
  • Placenta Percreta - placental villi penetrate myometrium and through to uterine serosa.
  • Placenta Previa - In this placenatal abnormality, the placenta overlies internal os of uterus, essentially covering the birth canal. This condition occurs in approximately 1 in 200 to 250 pregnancies. In the third trimester and at term, abnormal bleeding can require cesarian delivery and can also lead to Abruptio Placenta. Ultrasound screening programs during 1st and early 2nd trimester pregnancies now include placental localization. Diagnosis can also be made by transvaginal ultrasound.
  • Vasa Previa - (vasa praevia) placental abnormality where the fetal vessels lie within the membranes close too or crossing the inner cervical os (opening). This occurs normally in 1:2500-5000 pregnancies and leads to complications similar too those for Placenta Previa.Type II is defined as the condition where the fetal vessels are found crossing over the internal os connecting either a bilobed placenta or a succenturiate lobe with the main placental mass. Some recent evidence of successful in utero laser ablation of type II vasa previa at 22.5 weeks of gestation.
  • Abruptio Placenta - a retroplacental blood clot formation, abnormal hemorrhage prior to delivery.
  • Chronic Intervillositis - (massive chronicintervillositis, chronic histiocytic intervillositis) Rare placental abnormality and pathology defined by inflammatory placental lesions, mainly in the intervillous space (IVS), with a maternal infiltrate of mononuclear cells (monocytes, lymphocytes, histiocytes) and intervillous fibrinoid deposition.
  • Hydatidiform mole - placental tumor with no embryo development. Several forms of hydatidiform mole: partial mole, complete mole and persistent gestational trophoblastic tumor. Many of these tumours arise from a haploid sperm fertilizing an egg without a female pronucleus (the alternative form, an embryo without sperm contribution, is called parthenogenesis). The tumour has a "grape-like" placental appearance without enclosed embryo formation. Following a first molar pregnancy, there is approximately a 1% risk of a second molar pregnancy.


Links: Placenta - Abnormalities

Placental Cord Abnormalities

There are few abnormalities associated with umbilical cord development, other that abnormally short or long cords, which in most cases do not cause difficulties. In some cases though, long cords can wrap around limbs or the fetus neck, which can then restrict blood flow or lead to tissue or nerve damage, and therefore effect develoment.

Placental cord cross-section.jpg Placental cord knot.png

  • Cord knotting - can also occur (1%) in most cases these knots have no effect, in some cases of severe knotting this can prevents the passage of placental blood.
  • Cord torsion - Rare event where even without knot formation can also affect placental blood flow, even leading to fetal demise.


Placental Infections

Malaria plasmodium falciparum.jpg Listeria maternal-fetal barrier.jpg
Malaria (plasmodium falciparum) Listeria maternal-fetal barrier
  • Several infective agents may cross into the placenta from the maternal circulation, as well as enter the embry/fetal circulation. The variety of bacterial infections that can occur during pregnancy is as variable as the potential developmental effects, from virtually insignificant to a major developmental, abortive or fatal in outcome.
  • Pregnant women have an increased susceptibility to malaria infection. Malarial infection of the placenta by sequestration of the infected red blood cells leading to low birth weight and other effects. There are four types of malaria caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum (main), Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae). This condition is common in regions where malaria is endemic with women carrying their first pregnancy (primigravida).

Placental Pathology

MH - content in this section is not examinable.

  • Chronic Villitis - can occur following placental infection leading to maternal inflammation of the villous stroma, often with associated intervillositis. The inflammation can lead to disruption of blood flow and necrotic cell death.
  • Massive Chronic Intervillositis (MCI) - maternal blood-filled space is filled with CD68-positive histiocytes and an increase in fibrin, occuring more commonly in the first trimester.
  • Meconium Myonecrosis - prolonged meconium exposure leads to toxic death of myocytes of placental vessels (umbilical cord or chorionic plate).
  • Neuroblastoma - a fetal malignancy that leads to an enlarged placenta, with tumor cells in the fetal circulation and rarely in the chorionic villi.
  • Thrombophilias - (protein C or S deficiency, factor V Leiden, sickle cell disease, antiphospholipid antibody) can generate an increased fibrin/fibrinoid deposition in the maternal or intervillous space, this can trap and kill villi.

Additional Images

Historic - Fetal Membranes Images


External Links

External Links Notice - The dynamic nature of the internet may mean that some of these listed links may no longer function. If the link no longer works search the web with the link text or name. Links to any external commercial sites are provided for information purposes only and should never be considered an endorsement. UNSW Embryology is provided as an educational resource with no clinical information or commercial affiliation.

Placenta Terms

  • after-birth - term used to describe the delivery of placenta and placental membranes following birth of the child.
  • allantois - an endodermal diverticulum from the hindgut which extends from the superior end of the developing bladder into the adjacent placental cord.
  • anastomose - term used to describe the connection between two tubes. Applied to describe the connection between peripheral blood vessels without an intervening capillary bed.
  • angiogenesis development of new vessels from already existing vessels, this process is secondary to vasculogenesis which is the initial formation of first blood vessels by differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells (extraembryonic mesoderm).
  • angioblasts form clusters or blood islands on surface of yolk sac.
  • capsularis
  • chorionic sac fetal membrane that surrounds the developing embryo.
  • cord knotting umbilical cord knotting occurs in 1%, prevents the passage of placental blood. pseudoknots also occur usually with no effect.
  • cotyledons maternal side cobblestone appearance, originally placental septa formed grooves is covered with maternal decidua basalis.
  • cytotrophoblast extraembryonic cells of trophoblastic shell surrounding embryo, contribute to villi and placental membranes.
  • decidua basalis reaction occurs in maternal endometrium at site of, and following, blastocyst implantation. Seen as a deposition of glycogen and proliferation of blood vessels. (see also decidualization)
  • decidualization process by which uterine stromal cells differentiate in response to both steroid hormones and embryonic signals into large epitheliod decidual cells. This process is essential for the progress of implantation and establishing fetal-maternal communication.
  • endocrine function of placenta:
    • Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) like leutenizing hormone, supports corpus luteum
    • Human chorionic somatommotropin (hCS) or placental lactogen, stimulate mammary development
    • Human chorionic thyrotropin (hCT)
    • Human chorionic corticotropin (hCACTH)
    • progesterone and estrogens support maternal endometrium
    • relaxin- role in parturition, softens ligaments
  • fetal drug addiction occurs when drugs used maternally cross the placental barrier and can establish addiction in the unborn fetus.
  • fetal erythroblastosis (Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn), an immune problem from fetus Rh+ /maternal Rh-, leakage from fetus causes anti-Rh antibodies, which is then dangerous for a 2nd child.
  • frondosum-
  • haemocytoblasts (hemangioblast) stem cells for embryonic blood cell formation, often appearing as a "cluster" or "island".
  • Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn - see fetal erythroblastosis.
  • hemotrophic nutrition - Term used to describe in late placental development the transfer of blood-borne nutrition from maternal to embryo/fetus compared to early [#histiotrophic_nutrition histiotrophic nutrition]. (More? Uterine glands provide histiotrophic nutrition for the human fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy. Burton GJ, Watson AL, Hempstock J, Skepper JN, Jauniaux E. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Jun;87(6):2954-9. PMID: 12050279 | J Clin Endocrinol Metab.)
  • histiotrophic nutrition - Term used to describe in early placental development the intital transfer of nutrition from maternal to embryo (histiotrophic nutrition) compared to later blood-borne nutrition ([#hemotrophic_nutrition hemotrophic nutrition]). Histotroph is the nutritional material accumulated in spaces between the maternal and fetal tissues, derived from the maternal endometrium and the uterine glands. This nutritional material is absorbed by phagocytosis initially by blastocyst trophectoderm and then by trophoblast of the placenta. in later placental development nutrition is by the exchange of blood-borne materials between the maternal and fetal circulations, hemotrophic nutrition. (More? Uterine glands provide histiotrophic nutrition for the human fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy. Burton GJ, Watson AL, Hempstock J, Skepper JN, Jauniaux E. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Jun;87(6):2954-9. PMID: 12050279 | J Clin Endocrinol Metab.)
  • Hofbauer cells - placental villi macrophages of mesenchymal origin with potentially additional functions (vasculogenesis/angiogenesis, villi remodeling, regulation of stromal water content) to their macrophage role.
  • Human chorionic gonadotrophin- (hCG) like leutenizing hormone, supports corpus luteum
  • Human chorionic somatommotropin - (hCS) or placental lactogen - hormone level increases in maternal blood through pregnancy, decreases maternal insulin sensitivity (raising maternal blood glucose levels and decreasing maternal glucose utilization) aiding fetal nutrition.
  • Human chorionic thyrotropin- (hCT) placental derived hormone equivilant to thyroid
  • Human chorionic corticotropin- (hCACTH) placental derived hormone equivilant to corticotropin (ACTH) from the pituitary.
  • methyldopa - (alpha methyldopa) A central alpha agonist used to lower blood pressure. Used as an antihypertensive drug to lower blood pressure in pre-eclampsia, acting by either a direct or indirect central vasodilatory mechanism. A recent study suggests this drug may have a direct effect on placental and/or endothelial cell function in pre-eclampsia patients, altering angiogenic proteins. Drug commercial brandname (USA) "Aldomet", also available in combination with other drugs: methyldopa and chlorothiazide "Aldochlor", methyldopa and hydrochlorothiazide "Aldoril". (More? Placenta Abnormalities - Pre-eclampsia | Medline Plus - Methyldopa | Effect of antihypertensive therapy with alpha methyldopa on levels of angiogenic factors in pregnancies with hypertensive disorders. Khalil A, Muttukrishna S, Harrington K, Jauniaux E. PLoS ONE. 2008 Jul 23;3(7):e2766. PMID: 18648513)
  • maternal antibodies- antibodies from the mother's immune system that are capable of crossing placental barrier. They can provide immune protection to the embryo, but may also participate in immune disease (fetal erythroblastosis).
  • maternal sinusoids- placental spaces around chorionic villi that are filled with maternal blood. Closest maternal/fetal exchange site.
  • Nitabuch's layer (fibrinoid layer) layer formed at maternal/fetal interface during placentation and is thought to act to prevent excessively deep conceptus implantation. Fibrin-type fibrinoid (maternal blood-clot product) and matrix-type fibrinoid (secreted by invasive extravillous trophoblast cells).
  • placenta- (Gk. plakuos= flat cake) describes its typical mature discoid shape (20cm diameter and 3 cm thick at term,weighs 500-600 gm).
  • placenta accreta- abnormal, adherence with absence of decidua basalis.
  • placental arteries- paired, carry deoxygenated blood and waste from the embryo (dorsal aorta->internal iliacs->PA)
  • placental blood- blood found within the placental vessels. Obviously part of the fetal blood, but can be collected at birth for theraputic use containing blood stem cells (see cord blood banks).
  • placental blood vessels- form initially in the connecting stalk (then umbilical cord), anastomose in chorioni and extend maternally toward chorionic villi, extend embryonically to the sinus venosus and dorsal aorta.
  • placental layers- 4 layers separate maternal and fetal blood: syncitiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, villi connective tissue, and fetal capillary endothelium.
  • placenta percreta- abnormal, villi penetrate myometrium.
  • placenta previa- placenta overlies internal os of uterus, abnormal bleeding, may require cesarian delivery.
  • placental veins- paired initially then usually only one left at end of embryonic period, carry oxygenated blood to the embryo (sinus venosus)
  • primary villi- develop week 2, consist of trophoblastic shell cells both syncitiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts. Form finger-like extensions into the maternal endometrium.
  • protein hormone- usually a protein distributed in the blood that binds to membrane receptors on target cells in different tissues. Do not easliy cross placental barrier.
  • relaxin- hormone.
  • secondary villi- develop week 3, extraembryonic mesoderm grows into villi, initially covers entire surface of chorionic sac.
  • sinus venosus- cavity into which all major embryonic paired veins supply (vitelline, placental, cardinal)
  • syncitiotrophoblast- extraembryonic cells of trophoblastic shell surrounding embryo, outside the cytotrophoblast layer, involved with implantation of the blastocyst by eroding extracellular matrix surrounding maternal endometrial cells at site of implantation, also contribute to villi. (dark staining, multinucleated)
  • tertiary villi- develop week 4, mesenchyme within secondary villi differentiates into blood vessels and cells, forms arteriocapillary network, fuse with placental vessels developing in connecting stalk.
  • trophoblast-
  • umbilical cord- fetal attachment cord 1-2 cm diameter, 30-90cm long, covered with amniotic attached to chorionic plate, umbilical vessels (artery, vein) branch into chorionic vessels. Vessels anastomose within the placenta.
  • vasculogenesis formation of first blood vessels by differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells (extraembryonic mesoderm) followed by angiogenesis which is the development of new vessels from already existing vessels.
  • villi- initially outgrowth of the trophoblastic shell which involve other tissues with development. Develop in sequence (primary, secondary, tertiary) with mature villi being stem por branched type.
  • virus- small infectious agent able to cross placental barrier. Can infect embryo and cause developmental abnormalities. (e.g. cytomegalovirus, rubella, measles)
  • vitelline- Blood vessels cover entire surface of yolk sac and connect to embryo through yolk stalk
    • Arteries- arises from dorsal aorta and contribute to adult GIT arteries.
    • Veins- empties into sinus venosus and contribute to the adult portal system.
  • waste products products of cellular metabolism and cellular debris, e.g.- urea, uric acid, bilirubin
  • Wharton's jelly placental cord (umbilical cord) gelatinous connective tissue composed of myofibroblast-like stromal cells, collagen fibers, and proteoglycans. Increases in volume (myxomatous, connective tissue embedded in mucus) at parturition to assist closure of placental blood vessels. Matrix cells from Wharton's jelly have recently been identified as a potential source of stem cells. This placental cord substance is named after Thomas Wharton (1614-1673) an English physician and anatomist who first described it.


2015 Course: Week 2 Lecture 1 Lecture 2 Lab 1 | Week 3 Lecture 3 Lecture 4 Lab 2 | Week 4 Lecture 5 Lecture 6 Lab 3 | Week 5 Lecture 7 Lecture 8 Lab 4 | Week 6 Lecture 9 Lecture 10 Lab 5 | Week 7 Lecture 11 Lecture 12 Lab 6 | Week 8 Lecture 13 Lecture 14 Lab 7 | Week 9 Lecture 15 Lecture 16 Lab 8 | Week 10 Lecture 17 Lecture 18 Lab 9 | Week 11 Lecture 19 Lecture 20 Lab 10 | Week 12 Lecture 21 Lecture 22 Lab 11 | Week 13 Lecture 23 Lecture 24 Lab 12 | 2015 Projects: Three Person Embryos | Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome | Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome | Male Infertility | Oncofertility | Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis | Students | Student Designed Quiz Questions | Moodle page