Placenta Development
From Embryology
Introduction
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.
During that 9 month period it provides nutrition, gas exchange, waste removal, endocrine and immune support for the developing fetus. (More? Placental Overview | Histology).
There are essentially 3 separate aortic/venous circulatory systems: umbilical, systemic and vitelline. The umbilical system is lost at birth, the vitelline contributes to the portal system and the systemic (embryonic) is extensively remodelled to fom the the cardiovascular system.
Links: original Placenta page
Additional Images
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