Blood circulation Placental

Placental blood circulation

Placental circulation is a circulatory system that ensures the exchange of substances between the body of the mother and the fetus. It includes the uteroplacental and umbilical circulation.

Uteroplacental circulation occurs through the spiral arteries of the uterus, which open into the intervillous space of the placenta. The mother's blood enters the intervillous space, where metabolism occurs with the blood of the fetus.

The umbilical circulation is represented by two arteries and one vein of the fetal umbilical cord. The umbilical arteries carry fetal blood, depleted in oxygen and rich in carbon dioxide, to the placenta. In the placenta, this blood is enriched with oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood.

The enriched blood then flows through the umbilical vein to the fetus. In this way, gas exchange and nutrition of the developing organism are carried out. Placental circulation is vital for normal development and growth of the fetus.