What essential role does the placenta play during pregnancy?

What essential role does the placenta play during pregnancy?

• A. Circulating hormones only
• B. Transmitting maternal emotions to the fetus
• C. Nourishing the fetus and facilitating gas exchange
• D. Producing milk for the newborn

Answer: (C)

The placenta plays a crucial role during pregnancy by nourishing the fetus and facilitating gas exchange. It acts as an interface between the mother and the developing fetus, providing essential nutrients and oxygen from the mother's bloodstream while also removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. This organ is vital for ensuring that the fetus receives everything it needs for proper growth and development. The placenta also produces hormones that are important for maintaining the pregnancy, but its primary functions revolve around nourishment and gas exchange facilitation. The other options do not accurately represent the primary functions of the placenta. While hormones are indeed secreted by the placenta, that alone does not encompass its critical roles. Transmitting maternal emotions is not a function of the placenta, and the production of milk occurs postpartum, as the placenta is no longer needed once the baby is born. Thus, the essential role of the placenta in this context is unequivocally tied to nourishing the fetus and facilitating gas exchange.

The placenta plays a crucial role during pregnancy by nourishing the fetus and facilitating gas exchange. It acts as an interface between the mother and the developing fetus, providing essential nutrients and oxygen from the mother's bloodstream while also removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. This organ is vital for ensuring that the fetus receives everything it needs for proper growth and development. The placenta also produces hormones that are important for maintaining the pregnancy, but its primary functions revolve around nourishment and gas exchange facilitation.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary functions of the placenta. While hormones are indeed secreted by the placenta, that alone does not encompass its critical roles. Transmitting maternal emotions is not a function of the placenta, and the production of milk occurs postpartum, as the placenta is no longer needed once the baby is born. Thus, the essential role of the placenta in this context is unequivocally tied to nourishing the fetus and facilitating gas exchange.