Vascular Biology of the Placenta (Colloquium Series on Integrated Systems Physiology: From Mol)

The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall, thereby allowing nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. Proper vascular development in the placenta is fundamental to ensuring a healthy fetus and successful pregnancy. This book provides an up-to-date summary and synthesis of knowledge regarding placental vascular biology and discusses the relevance of this vascular bed to the functions of the human placenta. Table of Contents: Introduction / Placental Blood Circulation / Structure of the Placenta / Cell Types of the Placenta / Oxygen Tension and Placental Vascular Development / Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis of Human Placenta / Angiogenic Factors / Vasoactivators and Placental Vasoactivity / Lymphatic Phenotypic Characteristics of the Human Placenta / Placental Tissue and Cord Blood Stem Cells / Summary / Acknowledgment / References