Week 4 Flashcards
(131 cards)
explain: Blastocyst Implantation
Apposition
- Apposition: Initial adhesion of the blastocyst to the uterine wall
Explain: Blastocyst Implantation
Adhesion
- Adhesion: Increased physical contact between blastocyst and uterine epithelium
Explain: Blastocyst Implantation
Invasion
what happens to the trophoblasts at this point
- Invasion: Penetration and invasion of trophoblast into the endometrium → inner third of the myometrium and uterine vasculature
- The trophectoderm gives rise to the first layer of trophoblast cells that surround the blastocyst
- Trophoblast (8th day after fertilization) differentiates into inner (cytotrophoblast) and an outer layer (syncytiotrophoblast).
Syncytiotrophoblast versus cytotrophoblast
- Syncytiotrophoblast – consists non-individualized cells with amorphous cytoplasm that help facilitate transport; stimulates corpus luteum to secrete progesterone
- Cytotrophoblast – mononuclear cells that at Day 13-20 form villi
- *
subtypes cytotrophoblast
Villous trophoblast (primary transport oxygen and nutrients)
Extravillous trophoblast (migrates into the decidua and myometrium and penetrates maternal vasculature)
- Spiral arteries in endometrium are remodeled by extravillous trophoblast cells and NK cells → penetration of myometrium → allows for adequate blood flow/exchange for normal pregnancy
function of placenta
- Basic functions: respiratory exchange, metabolite exchange, hormone synthesis, and hormone regulation
layers of placenta
- Outer layers of placenta: amnion (inner layer) and chorion (outer layer) → eventually fuse laterally
what is the functional unit of the placenta
what is comprised of
- Functional unit of placenta: villus
- Comprised of a vast surface area filled with fetal capillaries that allow for exchange of nutrients, metabolites, hormones, and oxygen → blood travels through umbilical cord → fetus
what are some characterisitics of circulation of the placenta
- Umbilical vein: O2 rich/Umbilical artery: O2 poor
- Circulation is hemochorial – no direct connection between spiral arteries and fetal circulation
- Endometrial arteries/veins: derived from spiral arteries allow for exchange between mother and fetus
Describe changes in the cross-section of placenta villi
- First-trimester placenta: Syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts line the full membrane with no gaps
- Term placenta: Syncytiotrophoblasts start to form aggregations and few cytotrophoblasts persist (more chaotic state)
what is Morbidly adherent
- Morbidly adherent: when placenta villi invade serosa of uterus (pathological state)
what is the function of hCG
- hCG: glycoprotein very similar to LH/TSH/FSH (same alpha unit) produced almost exclusively in the placenta
- High carbohydrate content protects the hormone from degradation
what is the function of hPL
- hPL (Human Placental Lactogen): hormone made by early trophoblasts that is analogous to growth hormone (similar to prolactin)
- Functions: maternal lipolysis (increased circulating fatty acids), diabetogenic (increases maternal insulin level), angiogenic (forms fetal vasculature)
what are the
Hypothalamic-like releasing hormones
- GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone), CRH (releases cortisol), GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone)
what are the functions of the following Placental peptide hormones
Leptin, neuropeptide Y, inhibin & activan
- Leptin: anti-obesity hormone normally secreted by adipocytes → decreased food intake
- Neuropeptide Y: secreted from cytotrophoblasts → increase in CRH release
- Inhibin and Activin:
- Inhibin: secreted by ovarian granulosa cells → ceases possibility of ovulation
Function of
Progesterone and estrogen
- Progesterone: placenta produces a large amount of progesterone from maternal cholesterol → maintains uterine lining through pregnancy
- Estrogen: derived from fetal androgens
Adrenal gland hormones
what are thoossssssseeeee?
- Fetal zone produces androgens (DHEAS) that are used to synthesize placental estrogens
Describe the anatomical and functional changes in…
CV system
- Anatomic changes: larger cardiac silhouette – mild LV hypertrophy → S3 gallop
- Function changes:
- ↑ cardiac output – ↑ HR, SV → tachycardia
- ↑ blood volume – peaks at week 32
- Progesterone → ↓ SVR → state of hypotension → fatigue, syncope, ↓ exercise tolerance
- ↑ venous pressure/ IVC obstruction by growing uterus → edema, distended veins
How does CO an BP change in labor and post-partum
↑ CO, BP
Describe the anatomical and functional changes in…
Respiratory
- Anatomic changes: progesterone → chest expands & diaphragm rises (allows uterus to expand) → ↓ TLC, RV, FRC
- Estrogen → nasal mucosa swollen and edematous
- Functional changes:
- ↑ inspiratory capacity, tidal volume, minute ventilation and O2 consumption
- Vital capacity and RR stays the same
- Hyperventilation → ↓ PaCO2 → chronic respiratory alkalosis (help transfer O2 from mother to fetus)→ ↑ renal bicarbonate excretion
Describe the changes in…
Hematology (Rahul’s fav subject)
No one cares about hematology
- Hypotension → activation of RAAS → salt retention and thirst → ↑ plasma → ↑ circulating volume → dilutional anemia
- Progesterone + prolactin → ↑ RBCs
- ↑ iron demand (~100 mg) → anemia
- Estrogen + cortisol → ↑ WBC (~16000); more during labor
- Immune tolerance to fetus (NOT deficiency)
- ↓ cellular immunity: ↑ susceptibility to CMV, varicella, malaria AND improvement in autoimmune disease like RA
- Enhanced AB-mediated immunity, IgG decreases because it goes to placenta → passive immunity
- Immune tolerance to fetus (NOT deficiency)
- ↑ coagulation factors ( VII, VIII, IX, X) and ↓ Protein C/S → ↑ risk of venous thromboembolism → DVT, PE (Higher risk postpartum)
Describe anatomical and functional changes in…
renal system
- Anatomical changes: enlarged kidneys, dilation of collecting systems (due to progesterone)
- Compression of bladder by uterus → stress incontinence → ↑ RV → ↑ risk of UTI
- Functional changes:
- ↑ renal blood flow → ↑ GFR → ↑ clearance of creatinine (↓ serum creatinine/BUN), glucose, vitamins (not proteins) and ↑ reabsorption of salt
Describe anatomical and functional changes in…
GI
what are other random sx that happen
- Anatomical changes: appendix displaced by uterus
- Functional changes:
- ↓ tone/motility → reflux and constipation
- ↑ venous pressure → hemorrhoids
- ↓ gallbladder contractility → cholestasis, gallstones
- Other signs/symptoms: N/V (hyperemesis gravidarum caused by beta-hCG), dietary changes, blunted taste, pica, ptyalism (↑ saliva produced), gingival disease
what are the anatomical and functional changes that happen in..
endocrine system
- Anatomical changes: thyroid enlarges (no change seen in adrenal gland)
- Functional changes:
- Thyroid: alpha- hCG binds to thyroid receptors → ↑ T4 secretion → ↓ TSH (mimics hyperthyroidism)
- ↑ in TBG → serum T4 unchanged → euthyroid
- Adrenal: ↑ release of cortisol, corticotropin, aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone, DHEAS
- Thyroid: alpha- hCG binds to thyroid receptors → ↑ T4 secretion → ↓ TSH (mimics hyperthyroidism)











