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GIGU > Physiology of Pregnancy and Fetus > Flashcards

Physiology of Pregnancy and Fetus Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

Acts as the “fetal gut, lung and kidney”

A

Placenta

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2
Q

What does the placenta do for the fetus?

A
  1. Supplies nutrients
  2. Exchanges CO2 and O2
  3. Regulates fluid and disposes of wastes
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3
Q

The placenta synthesizes _____ that affect maternal and fetal metabolism

A

Steroids, proteins and hormones

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4
Q

The placenta has a large surface area for exchange, however the mother and fetal components still remain _____

A

Separate

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5
Q

What is the functional unit of the placenta?

A

Chorionic villi

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6
Q

Chorionic villi ____ to increase surface area and room for exchange of material

A

Branch

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7
Q

What arteries from the maternal side are involved with the placenta?

A

Spiral arteries

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8
Q

Spiral arteries from the mother empty into what?

A

Intervillous space

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9
Q

What drain the intervillous space?

A

Maternal veins

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10
Q

What does slow filling of the intervillous space allow for?

A

Adequate time for exchange of nutrients

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11
Q

What arteries does the fetal blood flow have?

A

2 umbilical arteries

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12
Q

Fetal umbilical arteries carry what type of blood?

A

DEoxygenated

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13
Q

The fetus receives the O2 (oxygenated blood) and nutrients from what?

A

1 Umbilical vein

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14
Q

Fetal capillary network has ______ to allow for slower blood flow and greater exchange

A

Terminal dilations

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15
Q

Describe the partial pressures of oxygen of the mother and fetus

A

Mother’s partial pressures of oxygen are much HIGHER than the fetal partial pressures of oxygen

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16
Q

What does the partial pressure difference of oxygen between the mother and fetus allow for?

A

Diffusion of oxygen into the chorionic villi for the fetus!

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17
Q

Fetal hemoglobin has a slightly different structure than maternal hemoglobin. Why?

A

It binds the limited oxygen with a higher affinity

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18
Q

How is CO2 transferred from the fetus to the mother?

A

Fetal blood has a lower affinity for CO2 than maternal blood, thus it favors the transfer

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19
Q

What are 4 other transfer mechanisms that can also occur at the placenta?

A
  1. Passive diffusion
  2. Facilitated diffusion
  3. Primary and secondary active transport
  4. Receptor mediated endocytosis
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20
Q

What is transferred to the fetus at the placenta via facilitated diffusion?

A

Glucose

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21
Q

What is transferred to the fetus at the placenta via primary and secondary active transport?

A

AA, minerals and vitamins

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22
Q

What is transferred to the fetus at the placenta via receptor mediated endocytosis?

A

Large molecules - antibodies, insulin

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23
Q

hCG

A

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

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24
Q

What produces hCG?

A

Syncytiotrophoblasts

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25
hCG is structurally related to ____ and can activate its receptors
LH
26
Main function of hCG?
Binds to LH receptors in the corpus luteum to maintain HIGH levels of PROGESTERONE
27
Maternal serum levels of ____ double daily for up to ____ weeks
hCG | 10 weeks
28
What is thought to cause morning sickness?
hCG
29
If small amounts of hCG enter the fetal circulation, what will be produced?
Will bind the LH receptors on leydig cells to produce testosterone
30
hPL
Human placental lactogen
31
What produces hPL?
Syncytiotrophoblasts
32
When is hPL detected in maternal serum?
Week 3
33
What is hPL structurally similar to?
GH and Prolactin
34
Main function of hPL?
Promotes shift of maternal use of glucose --> FA | Promotes development of mammary glands
35
What may contribute to maternal diabetes during prenancy?
hPL
36
High levels of _____ are required for implantation and throughout pregnancy
Progesterone
37
Where is progesterone derived from?
Corpus luteum
38
Main functions of progesterone
- Increases endometrial gland secretions and adhesion proteins - Reduces uterine motility and contractions - Induces mammary growth and differentiation
39
Main functions of estrogen
- Induces endometrial growth, LH surge and number of progesterone receptors - Induces growth and development of mammary glands
40
What hormone increases the uteroplacental blood flow?
Estrogen
41
Which hormones contribute to the development of mammary glands?
hPL Progesterone Estrogen
42
During pregnancy, which hormones are very high?
Progesterones and Estrogens
43
The placenta cannot produce the very high levels of progesterones and estrogens by itself. It required a coordinated effort between?
Mother, placenta, fetus
44
What does the mother supply to help produce high levels of progesterones and estrogens?
Cholesterol
45
What parts of the fetus help produce high levels of progesterones and estrogens?
Fetal adrenal glands and liver
46
What do the fetal adrenal glands and liver produce to help produce the high levels of progesterones and estrogens?
Enzymes that the placenta lacks
47
The fetal circulatory system has ____ shunts
3
48
Why does the fetal circulatory system have 3 shunts?
To bypass the liver and lungs that are not yet functioning properly
49
What are the 3 shunts in the fetal circulatory system?
1. Ductus venosus 2. Foramen Ovale 3. Ductus arteriosus
50
Ductus venosus shunt bypasses?
Liver
51
Foramen ovale shunt moves blood from where to where?
Right atrium to left atrium of heart
52
Ductus arteriosus shunt moves blood from where to where?
Pulmonary artery to aorta | right to left
53
What are the right to left fetal shunts?
Foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus
54
Which fetal shunts close after birth?
Foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus
55
How long after birth does the ductus venosus take to permanently close?
1-3 months
56
When the foramen ovale closes, what does it establish?
Right and Left circulatory systems
57
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Persistent ductus arteriosus | - oxygenated blood of aorta mixes with deoxygenated blood of pulmonary artery
58
What are the symptoms of patent ductus arteriosus?
Heart murmur, increased strain on heart and pulmonary hypertension
59
Patent Foramen Ovale
Persistent Foramen Ovale
60
Symptoms of patent foramen ovale?
Pulmonary hypertension - coughing, sneezing
61
Which fetal shunt rarely fails to close?
Ductus venosus

GIGU (29 decks)

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