(MSCDFSM)

Q10. a) Briefly discuss the role of placenta and list the hormones produced by it.

ANS(A)-    This might be a peculiar thing to think about, but at certain times in a woman's life, she can create a temporary organ. This organ, that comes and goes, only appears during pregnancy. You may have guessed that the temporary organ I am referring to is called the placenta. In this lesson, you will learn about this remarkable organ and the hormones it produces that help a pregnancy move along smoothly.

The placenta is an organ formed in the uterus of a pregnant woman. The term 'placenta' comes from the Latin language and means flat cake. It may seem strange to think of the placenta in this way, but when we look at a picture of the placenta it does have a flat, roundish shape, similar to a cake.

The placenta transfers nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.

Placenta Diagram

As mentioned earlier, this is a temporary organ. It functions as a connection between the mother and the fetus during fetal development. The placenta is the organ that provides the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as nutrients and wastes, between the mother and the fetus. After delivery, the placenta is expelled from the mother's body as part of the afterbirth, and any hormones that were produced by the placenta fade from the mother's bloodstream.