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Fetal Circulation

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...

Development of Blood Vessels

Development of Blood Vessels

The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...

Gonadal and Placental Hormones

Gonadal and Placental Hormones

The gonads, namely the testes in males and the ovaries in females, are pivotal in producing gonadal hormones that orchestrate the intricate processes of sexual development and reproduction.
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair growth — and...

Teratogenicity

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...

Gastrulation

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...

Cleavage and Blastulation

Cleavage and Blastulation

After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks

Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks

Published on: March 29, 2018

Some historical aspects of understanding placental development, structure and function.

Lawrence D Longo¹, Lawrence P Reynolds

¹Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Physiology, Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, USA. llongo@llu.edu

The International Journal of Developmental Biology

|October 31, 2009

Summary

The placenta

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Developmental Biology
Physiology

Background:

Historical perspectives on placental development and function date back to antiquity.
Key discoveries include the separation of maternal and fetal circulations in the late 18th/early 19th centuries.

Observation:

Research has addressed twin placentation, placental villi structure, and classification systems.
The intervillous space and maternal-fetal blood flow dynamics are critical areas of study.

Findings:

Understanding placental structure, function, and evolution has been a long-standing scientific endeavor.
The distinct maternal and fetal circulatory systems within the placenta were a significant historical finding.

Implications:

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Contemporary placental biology research focuses on metabolism, endocrinology, immunology, and epigenetics.
Investigating placental proteins is crucial for understanding embryonic and fetal development.