Pregnancy, Placenta

The physiological process of development of a fertilized egg in the female body. Pregnancy begins from the moment of fertilization of an egg matured in the ovary (female reproductive cell) by a sperm (male reproductive cell) and lasts on average for 10 lunar months - 40 weeks or 280 days.

Fertilization occurs at the very beginning of the fallopian tube, adjacent to the ovary. Thanks to the rhythmic worm-like contractions of the fallopian tubes, the fertilized egg moves into the uterine cavity.

While the egg moves through the tube, it turns into a multicellular embryo (fertilized egg), densely covered with delicate villi; thanks to them, it attaches to the mucous membrane of the uterus. From the moment of attachment to the mucous membrane of the uterus, the formation of the fetus and intensive restructuring of the functions of some systems of the pregnant woman’s body begin.

At the site of attachment of the embryo, the villi grow luxuriantly; from them the so-called baby's place, or placenta, is formed, connected to the fetus through the umbilical cord. Through the placenta, nutrients and oxygen are supplied to the fetus from the mother through the blood vessels of the umbilical cord and the products of its metabolism are removed.

The placenta performs the most important functions of providing the fetus with nutrition, oxygen and removing metabolic products. It is a temporary functioning organ that is formed only during pregnancy. After birth, the placenta separates and leaves the body.