The placenta (pl.: placentas or placentae) is a temporary embryonic and later fetal organ that begins developing from the blastocyst shortly after implantation. It plays critical roles in facilitating nutrient, gas, and waste exchange between the physically separate maternal and fetal circulations, and is an important endocrine organ, producing hormones that regulate both maternal and fetal ...
The placenta has several key functions, like providing nutrients to the fetus and releasing hormones. Learn more about this temporary organ.
The placenta is an organ that forms in the womb, also called the uterus, during pregnancy. The placenta is connected to a developing baby by a tubelike structure called the umbilical cord. Through the umbilical cord, the placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to a developing baby. It also removes waste from the baby's blood.
The placenta is your baby’s lifeline. This pancake-shaped organ connects your baby to your body via the umbilical cord, delivering nutrients, oxygen, and removing waste — all while keeping harmful germs at bay. It does a lot more than you might think. Forming early in pregnancy, the placenta also produces crucial hormones and supports your baby’s development until delivery, playing an ...
What Is the Placenta — and How Does It Help Your Baby Grow?
During pregnancy, the placenta is an essential organ that provides food and oxygen to the fetus. It develops in the uterus, attaching to its walls.
What is the placenta? The placenta is a pancake-shaped organ that develops within the wall of your uterus and connects to your baby though the umbilical cord. By the end of pregnancy, it grows to be about 9 inches in diameter and about an inch thick at the center. What does the placenta do? It delivers oxygen and nutrients (such as vitamins, glucose, and water) from your body to the baby's ...