Question

State three functions of the placenta.

Answer 1

In mammals, placenta performs the following functions:

(i) It helps in the nutrition of embryo as the nutrients like amino acids, mono-sugars, vitamins etc, diffuse from maternal blood into foetal blood through placenta. It also helps in exchange of gases and excretion of wastes.

(iv) It also acts as an endocrine gland as it secretes certain hormones like estrogen, relaxin, progesterone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG).

(vi) It also acts as an effective barrier for certain toxic chemicals like histamine.