Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
LEARNING OUTCOMES
2. note the juxtaposition of ectoderm and endoderm at the oral plate and cloacal membrane
3. describe the formation and fusion of the amnion to create a protective bubble around the embryo
4. be aware of the vestigial nature of the yolk sac in mammals with regard to nutrition but its importance
in terms of haematopoiesis and its transient significance in contributing to the choriovitelline placenta
5. show the development of the allantois as a bud of the gut tube and its importance in the
chorio-allantoic placenta
6. understand the different histological forms that the foetal/maternal placenta interface can take
7. understand the different anatomical forms that the foetal/maternal placenta interface can take
8. Note the emphasis on glucose and amino acids as energy and growth resources in the foetus and
explain how the placenta has an endocrine function in ensuring these resources are directed to the foetus
9. Explain the special foetal adaptations that ensure adequate perfusion of foetal tissues with oxygen
The flat embryo begins to fold downwards at the sides and at the
front and back to enclose a primitive gut
Ectoderm
Neural tube
Mesoderm
Endoderm
Ectoderm
Neural tube Hindgut
Mesoderm
Endoderm
Cloacal plate
Oral plate
FUSION POINTS
OF ECTODERM
AND ENDODERM
Regions of brain FUSION POINTS
WITH EXTRA-
EMBRYONIC
MEMBRANES Longitudinal view
The folding process not only creates the body form but also the extra-
embryonic structures of the yolk sac, allantois, amnion and chorion
Embryo proper
Primitive gut
Presumptive chorion
Chorio-allantoic placenta
Amnion
Chorion
Allantois
Yolk sac
Longitudinal view
Folds also undercut the sides of the body
Transverse view
Video of chick embryo (50h)
showing body folds and amnion
In the chick, the formation of the head fold
precedes that of the tail and the formation
of the body sides progresses caudally
https://www.eevec.vet.ed.ac.uk/vc/node.asp?ID=vcembr02
Histological classification of placentas is based on the degree
of removal of the maternal layers
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF MAMMALIAN PLACENTA EPITHELIOCHORIAL
Maternal endometrial epithelium intact
(horse,pig)
Foetal capillary (from umbilical artery)
SYNEPITHELIOCHORIAL
Endothelial layer Syncytium of maternal epithelium and
Chorion
(ruminants)
Connective tissue layer
(may be minimal) ENDOTHELIOCHORIAL
Removal of endometrial epithelium
And connective tissue
Cellular layer
(may be trophoectoderm + maternal (dogs, cats)
epithelium or a syncytium of the two,
or solely trophoectoderm) HAEMOCHORIAL
Connective tissue layer Removal of maternal endothelium
(may be minimal) (human, some rodents)
Maternal capillary
(in haemochorial placenta of primates
the endothelium is degraded)
Gross anatomical classification of placentas is based on the pattern
of contact between chorion and endometrium
DIFFUSE COTYLEDONARY
Uniform distribution of chorionic villi Villi restricted to defined area
over contact surface (horse, pigs) (cotyledons) (ruminants)
ZONARY DISCOIDAL
Girdle of chorionic villi around middle Disc-shaped area on chorionic sac
of chorionic sac (dogs,cats) (humans, rodents)
The haemochorial placenta shows the intimate juxtaposition
of foetal and maternal blood allowing efficient exchange
Foetal capillaries
The haemochorial placenta
A B
Umbilical vein
A http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/biog105/pages/demos/105/unit8/ovaryplacenta.html
B from Johnson, Essential Reproduction
Glucose is the dominant energy yielding substrate
for the foetus with little use of fatty acids
ENERGY SUBSTRATES
Glucose oxidation accounts from 50% oxygen use
Maternal tissues
CSM
GLUCOSE
GLUCOSE
Maternal liver
MOTHER FOETUS
TAG 3
Maternal adipose SYNTHESIS
FATTY 1 2 OXIDATION
ACIDS
LIPOPROTEINS FATTY
ACIDS
LPL 4
Maternal liver CELL
MEMBRANES
MOTHER FOETUS
3. TAG deposits in both white and brown adipose tissue. Brown fat essential for thermogenesis in neonate
MOTHER FOETUS
Notes:
1. An added benefit of the redirection of amino acids from
the maternal liver is that maternal urea production is low
thus favouring urea return across the placenta
Several foetal adaptations contribute to the ability of
the foetus to deliver sufficient oxygen to its tissues
30
pO 2 (mm Hg)
P50 maternal
P50 foetal
REFERENCES