PLACENTA

Placenta

The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. Placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or "placental" mammals, but are also found in some snakes and lizards and sharks with varying levels of development. Note, however, that the homology of such structures in various viviparous organisms is debatable and, in invertebrates such as Arthropoda, is analogous at best.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Placenta
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

placenta

Noun

  1. A vascular organ in mammals, except monotremes and marsupials, present only in the female during gestation. It supplies food and oxygen from the mother to the foetus, and passes back waste. It is implanted in the wall of the uterus and links to the foetus through the umbilical cord. It is expelled after birth.
  2. In flowering plants, the part of the ovary where ovules develop; in non-flowering plants where the spores develop.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: placenta
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!