Chapters

10.0 Learning aims, what you should already know, introduction, delving deeper

• Learning aims
• What you should already know
• Introduction
• Delving deeper

10.1 Early development and implantation

• Early development
• Implantation
  • The trophoblast
  • The embryoblast
    

10.2 Development of the placental villi

• Anatomy of the placenta
• The three villus types
  • The cytotrophoblast layer
• Connections between maternal and fetal tissues
  • Placental tissue structure
  • Development of the placenta
  • The decidua
  • Development of the villi

10.3 Placental blood circulation

• Fetal and maternal blood circulation systems
  • The fetal circulation system
  • The maternal circulation system
• The placental barrier

10.4 The physiology of the placenta:
Role of the placenta in the feto-maternal exchange processes

• Mechanisms of the feto-maternal exchanges
• Breathing function
• Nutritive and excretory functions
• Placenta and the immunological barrier
• Protein transfer
• Protective function
• Endocrinal function

10.5 Fetal membranes, placenta and pregnancies with twins

• Introduction
• Dizygotic twins
• Monozygotic twins
• Incomplete separation of the embryonic axes

10.6 The umbilical cord

• Development of the umbilical cord
• Role and abnormalities of the umbilical cord

10.7 The various placenta types

• Introduction
• Outer form
• Feto-maternal interdigitation
• Feto-maternal separation layers

10.8 The amniotic fluid

• Physiology of the amniotic fluid
• Pathology of the amniotic fluid

10.9 Pathologies of the placenta

• Implantation and form anomalies
• Toxemia of pregnancy
• Fetal erythroblastosis (morbus haemolyticus fetalis)
• Inflammation of the placenta
• Hydatid mole
• The chorion carcinoma
  

10.10 Quiz

• Test your knowledge

10.11 Brief summary

• Summarized

10.12 Bibliography

• References