Placental Endocrinology

  • David L. Healy
Chapter

Abstract

The placenta is a temporary fetomaternal organ that sustains the growth and nutrition of the developing conceptus. Human beings have a villous hemo chorial placenta in which trophoblast is in direct contact with maternal blood (Fig. 3-1). Syncytiotrophoblast is the outer layer of trophoblast, which is in direct contact with this blood; it derives from the cytotrophoblast, which is most prominent in early pregnancy (Fig. 3-2).

Keywords

Obstet Gynecol Amniotic Fluid Corpus Luteum Human Pregnancy Placental Lactogen 
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Copyright information

© Plenum Publishing Corporation 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • David L. Healy
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyMonash University, Queen Victoria Medical CentreMelbourneAustralia

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