Regulation of Growth and Function of Lifeline Placenta.

ABSTRACT

Placenta is an association of fetal and maternal tissues which develops during pregnancy. Placenta is often called lifeline, because it is the link between mother and growing fetus. It serves variety of functions, which include transport of nutrients to growing fetus, waste products from fetus, exchange of gases and also immunological protection to the fetus. It has a unique ability to function as a hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal-axis as it can produce a variety of peptide, protein and steroid hormones. Thus, it is an autonomous unit capable of regulating its own growth and function.