Development and Ageing Flashcards
mode of early embryo nutrition
histiotrophic (digest maternal tissues and use uterine secretions from uterine glands as nutrition)
2nd trimester embryo swithc to what kind of nutrition
haemotrophic
why placenta is called haemochorial type placenta
maternal blood directly contacts the fetal membranes (chorionic villi)
in what week is fetal demand on oxygen low
week 0-13
why chorionic villi becomes more branched as time goes by
increase SA based in maternal blood for exchange
role of syncytiotrophoblast
invasion into endometrium to take secretions from uterine glands
what are the 3 phases of chorionic villi development
primary
secondary
tertiary
primary phase of chorionic villi development
outgrowth of cytotrophoblast ad branching of these extension
secondary phase of chorionic villi development
growth of fetal mesoderm into primary villi
tertiary phase of chorionic villi development
growth of umbilical artery and vein into villus mesoderm to provide vasculature
describe the structure of terminal villus microstructure
Convoluted knot of vessels and vessel
dilation
whole structure coated with trophoblast
why terminal villus microstructure has slow blood flow
enable exchange between maternal and fetal blood
what is terminal villus microstructure coated with
trophoblast
function of spiral arteries
provide the maternal
blood supply to the endometrium
what forms the endovascular extra-villus trophoblast (EVT)
EVT cells coating the villi invade down into maternal spiral arteries to form endovascular EVT
what grows down to form spiral arteries
invasion of trophoblast cells
what is the conversion of spiral artery in spiral artery remodelling
turns from high resistance and low capacity to low resistance and high capacity after fully converted
How does spiral artery
re-modelling occur?
- EVT cell invasion triggers endothelial cells to release chemokines, recruiting immune cells.
- Immune cells invade spiral artery walls and begin to disrupt vessel walls.
- EVT cells secrete break down normal vessel wall extracellular matrix and replace with a
new matrix known as fibrinoid to give structure to vessel - Remodelling: remove smooth muscle, immune cell and have EVT cells invasion
what happens if there is failed conversion in spiral artery remodelling
smooth muscle remains,
immune cells become embedded in vessel wall and vessels blocked/occluded by RBCs
pro-inflammatory and high resistance
consequences of failed spiral artery remodelling
lead to perturbed flow and local hypoxia, free radical damage and inefficient delivery of substrates
into the intervillous space.
* Retained smooth muscle may allow residual contractile capacity -> perturb blood delivery to the intravillous space.
* Atherosclerosis can occur in basal (non-spiral) arteries
that would not normally be targeted by trophoblast.
what pathologies are unconverted spiral arteries vulnerable to
intimal hyperplasia
atherosclerosis
what is pre-eclampsia
New onset hypertension (in a previously normotensive
woman) BP ≥140 mmHg systolic and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic
* Occurring after 20 weeks’ gestation
symptoms of pre-eclampsia
sudden onset of HTN
oedema
abdo pain
headache
visual disturbances, seizures, breathelessness
what happens to fetus in pre-eclampsia
reduced fetal movement