How does the embryo get nourishment inside the mother’s body?

During pregnancy, the developing embryo receives nourishment from the mother’s body through the placenta. The placenta is an organ that forms during pregnancy and connects the developing embryo to the mother’s uterus. It is responsible for the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the mother and the developing embryo.

The placenta is made up of two layers: the maternal side, which is in contact with the mother’s blood, and the fetal side, which is in contact with the developing embryo’s blood. The two layers are separated by a thin barrier called the placental membrane.

Nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids are transported from the mother’s blood to the developing embryo through the placenta. Oxygen and other gases are also transported in the same way. Waste products such as carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste are transported from the developing embryo’s blood to the mother’s blood.

In addition, the placenta also produces hormones that are essential for the maintenance of pregnancy, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone. The placenta also provides a barrier that helps to protect the developing embryo from certain infections and toxins.

Overall, the placenta plays a vital role in providing nourishment to the developing embryo during pregnancy by facilitating the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the mother and the developing embryo. It also produces hormones that are essential for the maintenance of pregnancy and provides a barrier that helps to protect the developing embryo.