Question

Give a biological explanation for 'The placenta is an important structure for the development of a foetus'.

Answer 1

Placenta is an organ that connects the developing foetus to the uterine wall of the mother. The placenta is an important structure for the developing foetus due to the following reasons:

1. By means of a placenta, the developing embryo obtains nutrients and oxygen from the mother and gives off carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste.

2. Materials like food i.e. glucose, amino acids, lipids), water, mineral salts, vitamins, hormones, antibodies and oxygen pass from the maternal blood into foetal blood via the placenta.

3. Foetal metabolic wastes like CO${}_2$, urea etc. pass through the placenta into the maternal blood.

Thus, the placenta is a nutritive, respiratory and excretory organ of the foetus.