Week 8.0 - Placenta Flashcards
(50 cards)
When does the placenta begin to appear and how?
- 2nd week
- Differentiation of outer cell mass into syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast
Which section of the placenta mediates implantation?
-Syncytiotrophoblast
What happens to the embryonic spaces in the developing embryo?
- Yolk sac disappears
- Amniotic sac enlarges to fill the chorionic cavity and the two layers fuse together making the amniochorion
What happens to the chorionic villi during development of the placenta?
-Initially cover the entire outer surface of the chorion but eventually only present on the developed placenta and the chorion becomes smooth
Why is implantation described as interstitial?
-The uterine epithelium is breached and the conceptus becomes implanted within the stroma -> interstitial
Why is it important that the placental membrane become progressively thinner as the fetus enlarges?
-The needs of the fetus increase and diffusion across the membrane needs to be rapid
What is meant by the placenta being haemomonochorial?
-One layer of trophoblast separates maternal blood from capillary fetal wall
What are the aims of implantation?
- Establish a basic unit of exchange between mother and fetus
- Anchor the placenta
- Establish maternal blood flow within the placenta
Describe the development of the placental villi
- Primary villi -> cytotrophoblast cells project through syncytiotrophoblast
- Secondary villi -> gastrulation occurs and the trophoblast villi become invaded by a mesenchyme core and expand to touch the lacunae
- Tertiary villi -> Mesenchyme core develops into arteries, veins and supporting tissues which connect with embryonic vessels and from here on products pass across this placental barrier
What is meant by the change of the placenta from histiocytic to haemocytic?
-Change from simple diffusion to blood
What is an ectopic pregnancy? Why is it so dangerous?
- Implantation of the embryo at a site other than uterine body, commonly the fallopian tube but can be in the peritoneum or ovary
- Dangerous as there are no decidual cells to control invasion and complex network of vessels nearby are therefore all at risk of erosion as it can penetrate through the wall
What is placenta previa? What effect does it have on delivery? Why is it dangerous?
- Implantation occurs low on the uterine wall in such a way that as the placenta grows it obstructs the growth canal
- Highly vascularised structure growing across an opening -> risk of haemorrhage
- Requires C-section as birth canal occluded
What are pre-decidual cells?
-Cells which are produced during the uterine cycle which become decidual cells upon pregnancy. These cells become an intransic part of the placenta and control the extent of invasion during implantation
What 2 major changes happen in the endometrium during the uterine cycle?
- Pre-decidual cells develop
- Elaboration of arterial blood supply -> spiral arteries
What is decidualisation?
-The incorporation of decidual cells into the placenta to act as a control for invasion
In response to which hormone does decidualisaion occur?
-Progesterone
What is the function of the decidual cells within the placenta?
- Control implantation
- Prevent the mothers immune system from attacking the fetus
What is the cause of excessive implantation within the endometrium?
-Faulty decidual cells -> can lead to placenta accreta (villus invasion of the myometrium
What is meant by the elaboration of the arterial supply in the maternal endometrium during the uterine cycle?
-The arteries spiralise in order ro develop a rich vascular supply
What is meant by remodelling of the spiral arteries? How does this help establish a sufficient uteroplacental circulation?
-The maternal endothelial lining of spiral arterioles is invaded by the cells of the cytotrophoblast layer at its opening. The invasion causes destruction of smooth muscle and replacement of some of the endothelium. This creates a low resistance vascular bed to maintain high blood flow
What is pre-eclampsia?
- Implantation defect where there is inadequate modification of spiral vessel walls-> endothelial lining remains-> vascular bed is not sufficient to maintain high flow needed during pregnancy -> maternal circulation tries to compensate to drive placental transport
- Spectrum
Name 3 different ways you can get monozygotic twins and the effects on the placenta/amnion
- Zygote spilts are morula stage producing two morulas, to blastocytes, two separate implantation sites, two placentas
- Zygote splits at inner cell mass producing one placenta, two amnions but a shared chorion
- Apprearance of a second primative streak -> one placenta, one amniotic sac
What is a placental cotyledon?
-Separations of the decidua basalis by the placental septae which has a main stem of chorionic villus and its branches and capillaries (the cotyledon is surrounded by maternal blood and this is where diffusion takes place)
How is the maternal blood supply established within the syncytiotrophoblast?
- lytic activity of the syncytiotrophoblast
- maternal capillaries are eroded and anastomose with the trophoblast lacunae, forming the sinusoids.
- At the end of the pregnancy the lacunae communicate with each other and form a single, connected system that is delimited by the syncytiotrophoblast and is termed the intervillous space.
