Human Reproduction - Notes | Class 12 | Part 7: Pregnancy, Embryonic development, Parturition, Lactation

3. HUMAN REPRODUCTION


PREGNANCY AND EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT

-    After implantation, finger-like projections (chorionic villi) appear on the trophoblast.

-    They are surrounded by uterine tissue and maternal blood.

-    The chorionic villi & uterine tissue are interdigitated to form placenta. It is a structural and functional unit b/w embryo (foetus) and maternal body.

-    Placenta is connected to the embryo by an umbilical cord. It transports substances to and from the embryo.


Functions of placenta


·   Acts as barrier between the foetus and mother.

·   Supply O2, nutrients etc. from mother to foetus.

·   Remove CO2 and excretory wastes from foetus.

·    Acts as an endocrine gland. It secretes Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), oestrogens, progesterone & relaxin. Relaxin is also secreted by ovary.

-    During pregnancy, levels of estrogens, progestogens, cortisol, prolactin, thyroxin etc. are also increased in maternal blood. They support the fetal growth, metabolic changes in the mother and maintain pregnancy.

-    The germ layers give rise to all tissues (organs). The stem cells in inner cell mass have the potency to give rise to all the tissues and organs.

-    Human pregnancy (gestation period) lasts 9 months (cats: 2 months, dogs: 2 months, elephants: 21 months).


Changes in embryo during pregnancy


·    After one month: Heart is formed.

·    End of second month: Limbs and digits are developed.

·    End of 12 weeks (first trimester): Major organs (limbs, external genital organs etc.) are well developed.

·    During 5th month: First movement of foetus and appearance of hair on the head.

·   End of 24 weeks (end of 2nd trimester): Body is covered with fine hair, eyelids separate and eye lashes are formed.

·    End of 9 months: Ready for delivery.


PARTURITION AND LACTATION


-    Parturition (labour): Process of giving birth to young ones.

-    Parturition is induced by neuroendocrine mechanism.

-  The signals originating from the foetus and placenta induce mild uterine contractions (fetal ejection reflex). This causes the release of oxytocin from maternal pituitary.

-    Oxytocin causes stronger uterine muscle contractions which in turn stimulate further secretion of oxytocin. This process is continued leading to expulsion of the baby out of the uterus through the birth canal.

-    After parturition, the umbilical cord is cut off.

-    The placenta & remnants of umbilical cord are expelled from the maternal body after parturition. It is called “after birth”.

-    The mammary glands produce milk towards the end of pregnancy. It is called lactation.

-    The yellowish milk produced during the initial few days of lactation is called colostrum. It contains several antibodies essential to develop resistance for the new born babies.

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