Physiology 4700A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Ductus Venosus, Flow Velocity, Alanine
15 Apr 2017
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Gas and nutrient exchange occurs across the placental-fetal membrane in the intravillous space through the remodeled spiral arteries. Co2 and urea are passed through to uterine vein to leave fetus/placenta. As gestation progresses, placental weight increases to support an even more increasing fetal weight; there is also increased placental function near term. Babies are born small from either premature birth or fetal growth restriction. Low bw in the us has been increasing over the years (maybe b/c of in vitro and twins) But low bw is a crude measure of babies that were in suboptimal growth environments. Poor placental function, making the baby go into nicu upon birth. Due to: hypoxia, hypoglycemia, change in amino acids, undernutrition. Leaving baby in for longer increases survival rate. Poor in utero growth combined with childhood catch-up growth leads to later life diseases (cvd, obesity, high bp) Iugr leads to metabolic syndrome: diabetes, chronic ht, coronary artery disease.
