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Related Concept Videos

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Fetal Circulation

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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.
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Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
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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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The uterine wall consists of three histological layers: the perimetrium, myometrium, and endometrium. The outermost perimetrium is a thin, serous membrane connected with the broad ligament on the sides, which helps anchor the uterus in the pelvic cavity. The thickest layer, myometrium, is mainly made up of smooth muscle tissue bundles. Its contractions are vital in facilitating the expulsion of the uterine lining, fetus, and placenta during menstruation and childbirth.
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Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface
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The placenta: a multifaceted, transient organ.

Graham J Burton1, Abigail L Fowden2

  • 1Centre for Trophoblast Research and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK gjb2@cam.ac.uk.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
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The placenta, a vital transient organ, supplies oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Its unique adaptations and hormonal functions support fetal growth, but human bipedalism presents challenges potentially linked to pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia.

Keywords:
fetal growthplacentapregnancy

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Area of Science:

  • Human physiology
  • Reproductive biology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • The placenta is a critical, yet poorly understood, transient organ essential for fetal development.
  • It performs functions later assumed by multiple adult organs, including nutrient/oxygen supply and endocrine regulation.
  • Placental function is vital for fetal growth, particularly brain development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the placenta's complex functions and adaptations.
  • To investigate the impact of human bipedalism on placental circulation and pregnancy outcomes.
  • To understand the physiological trade-offs potentially leading to human-specific pregnancy complications.

Main Methods:

  • Structural analysis of placental adaptations for exchange.
  • Examination of maternal-fetal circulation dynamics.
  • Review of hormonal influences on maternal metabolism.
  • Analysis of hemodynamic challenges posed by bipedalism.

Main Results:

  • The placenta features a large surface area and thin membrane for efficient nutrient and oxygen transfer.
  • Maternal uterine arteries undergo remodeling to optimize placental perfusion.
  • Placental hormones significantly alter maternal metabolism to support fetal growth and lactation.
  • Human bipedalism introduces unique circulatory pressures on the placental system.

Conclusions:

  • The placenta's structure and hormonal actions are crucial for fetal well-being.
  • Human-specific adaptations, including bipedalism, may contribute to pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia.
  • These complications might represent an evolutionary trade-off for supporting a large fetal brain.