During pregnancy, the fetus grows surrounded by amniotic fluid. The sheep amniotic membrane is a thin film that protects the amniotic fluid in the pregnant woman's abdomen, which is the environment where the fetus is located. The placenta is the place where substances are exchanged between the mother and the fetus. So, is sheep placenta the placenta?
The placenta is composed of three parts: amniotic membrane, chorion, and decidua. And the amniotic membrane is a part of the placenta, located in the innermost layer of the placenta. So the sheep placenta is not the placenta anymore. The leaf shaped chorion, although not an important part of the placenta, is the main part of the pregnancy placenta, and the decidua is the main part of the placenta, but only a small part of the pregnancy placenta. These three are essential substances that make up the placenta.
Moreover, the placenta is classified into four levels, namely placental maturity. Generally speaking, grade zero indicates immature placenta, while grade one marks the beginning of placental maturity, grade two indicates complete maturity, and grade three indicates aging. This corresponds to different stages of pregnancy for pregnant women. Placental grade zero is at 12-18 weeks of pregnancy, but placental maturation mainly occurs at 30-36 weeks of pregnancy. By 37 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta has already aged.
As mentioned earlier, the placenta is the site of material exchange between the mother and the fetus. In addition, the placenta also has many functions. The placenta can store some substances. In the early stages of pregnancy, the placenta will store a large amount of nutrients for the growth needs of the fetus. The second is that the placenta has a regulatory effect, which means that in the later stages of pregnancy, the placenta helps the fetus grow and develop. In addition, the placenta can also protect the fetus and ensure a smooth pregnancy for pregnant women.
