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5/9/2017 DifferenceBetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord|Definition,Structure,Role
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DifferenceBetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord
May9,2017 •byLakna •4minread
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MainDifference–Placentavs
UmbilicalCord
Placentaandumbilical cord are two componentsofthe fetal
life support system of a developing fetus inside the uterus.
Placenta absorbs nutrients and oxygen from mother’s
bloodstreamand transfers to the fetusvia the umbilicalcord.
Themain difference between placenta and umbilical cord is
thatplacentaisatemporaryorganwhichjoinsmotherand
the fetus whereas umbilical cord is the connecting link
betweendevelopingfetusandtheplacentaofthemother.
Thisarticlelooksat,
1.WhatisPlacenta
–Definition,Structure,Role
2.WhatisUmbilicalCord
–Definition,Structure,Role
3.WhatisthedifferencebetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord
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5/9/2017 DifferenceBetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord|Definition,Structure,Role
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WhatisPlacenta
Placentaisa temporary organattachedtotheuterine wall, connectingthefetustothemother.Bothbloodstreamsof
motherandfetusarekeptseparatelybytheplacentawhile maintainingtheconnectionbetweenthetwo.Placentaisa
round,flatorgan, whichisfoundinmammalsandnonmammals with differentialdevelopments.Structurally,itisa
hemochorialvillousorgan.
Placenta absorbs nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s bloodstream and eliminates the waste of the fetus to the
mother’s blood. Umbilical cord is developed from the placenta and it carries substances between placenta and the
fetus. Placenta serves as an immunological barrier for antigen attacks from maternal side as well. It is also an
endocrine organ which produces many hormones like estrogen, progesterone and human placental lactogen and
growth factors. These hormones and growth factors are involved in promoting and supporting the fetal growth.
Chorionicvillus is thefunctionalunitoftheplacenta, containing fetalvascularendothelium,villousstromal and the
layers of syncytiotrophoblasts/cytotrophoblasts. Vascular endothelium is involved in the maintenance of maternal
placentalcirculationandfetoplacentalcirculationseparately.Humanplacentaisshowninfigure1.
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5/9/2017 DifferenceBetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord|Definition,Structure,Role
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Figure1:Humanplacenta
WhatisUmbilicalCord
Umbilicalcordistheconduitbetweenthedevelopingfetus
andtheplacenta.Itrunsthroughanopeningofthestomach
ofthefetus.Theaverageofthe cord is about 50 cm long.
Umbilical cord carries substances like nutrients, oxygen,
gassesand waste products via placenta and thefetus. It is
madeup of one vein and two arteries. Veinis responsible
for the transportation of oxygen and nutrients from the
placenta to the fetus. Carbon dioxide along with other
waste products are transported from fetus to the placenta
via two arteries. The three blood vessels are protected by
Wharton’s jelly. Wharton’s jelly is covered by a layer of
membranecalledamnion.Theumbilicalcordofanewlybornchildisshowninfigure2.
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5/9/2017 DifferenceBetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord|Definition,Structure,Role
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Figure2:Umbilicalcord
DifferenceBetweenPlacentaandUmbilicalCord
Definition
Placenta:Placentaistheorganwhichconnectsthedevelopingfetustotheuterinewall.
UmbilicalCord:Umbilicalcordistheconduitbetweendevelopingembryo/fetusandtheplacenta.
Role
Placenta:Placenta allowsthe uptake of nutrients from mother’sbloodstream, gasexchange, waste elimination and
thermalregulationofthefetus.
UmbilicalCord:Umbilicalcordlinksplacentaandfetusforthetransformationofnutrients,gasses,andwaste.
Origin
Placenta:Fetalplacentabelongstothefetuswhereasmaternalplacentabelongstothemother.
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AbouttheAuthor:Lakna
Lakna,agraduateinMolecularBiology&Biochemistry,isaMolecularBiologistandhasa
broadandkeeninterestinthediscoveryofnaturerelatedthings
UmbilicalCord:Umbilicalcordbelongstothefetus.
Conclusion
Placenta,umbilicalcordand amniotic sac are the three componentsofthefetallifesupport system of a developing
fetus.Themaindifferencebetweenplacentaandumbilicalcordistheirstructureandrole.Placentaistheorganwhich
absorbs oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood. These nutrients and oxygen are transported through the
umbilicalcordto the fetus. Only maternal placentabearsthe maternal origin. Fetal placentaandtheumbilical cord
bearfetalorigin.Bothplacentaandumbilicalcordareremovedfromtheuterusafterthechildbirth.
Reference:
1.Wang,Yuping.“Introduction.”VascularBiologyofthePlacenta.U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine,01Jan.1970.
Web.03May2017.
2.”Whatistheumbilicalcord?–Healthquestions.”NHSChoices.NHS,n.d.Web.03May2017.
3.”FetalLifeSupportSystem:PlacentaandUmbilicalCord.”AmericanPregnancyAssociation.N.p.,18Apr.2017.
Web.03May2017.
ImageCourtesy:
1.”Placenta”ByGray38.png:UserMagnusManskeonen.wikipediaderivativework:Amada44talktome–
Gray38.png(PublicDomain)viaCommonsWikimedia
2.“Umbilicalcord”(Copyrightedfreeuse)viaCommonsWikimedia
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