Placenta (Lat. Placenta - Cake)

The placenta (from the Latin placenta - flat cake) is an organ that is a kind of bridge between the mother and the embryo, providing nutrition and protection to the latter during pregnancy. The placenta is formed partly from embryonic tissue and partly from maternal tissue, and is one of the most important organs in the process of fetal development.

The placenta begins to form immediately after the fertilization of the egg. At the beginning of pregnancy it is a small organ, but as the fetus grows, the placenta also increases in size. It is a flat disc that is attached to the wall of the uterus.

The main function of the placenta is to provide nutrition and oxygen to the embryo and remove metabolic waste. The placenta also plays the role of a barrier that protects the fetus from various harmful substances and infections that may be in the mother's blood. In addition, the placenta serves as an endocrine organ, producing hormones that are necessary to maintain pregnancy and fetal development.

When examining the placenta, you can see that it consists of two parts - fetal and maternal. The fetal part of the placenta contains blood vessels that are responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The maternal part contains the mother's blood vessels, which make it possible to remove metabolic waste from the fetus.

Although the placenta is an important organ in pregnancy, it can also be associated with certain diseases, such as preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction. Therefore, it is important to monitor the health of the placenta and undergo regular medical examinations during pregnancy.

In conclusion, we can say that the placenta is an amazing organ that plays a key role in the process of pregnancy and fetal development. Its functions include not only providing nutrition and protecting the fetus, but also producing hormones necessary to maintain pregnancy. Therefore, taking care of the health of the placenta should be one of the most important priorities for expectant mothers.