The Placenta - A Lifeline Between Mother and Fetus

Abstract

The placenta is a transient yet indispensable organ that sustains the developing fetus throughout pregnancy. It mediates the exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products, while also regulating maternal physiology through endocrine and immunological functions. This review integrates classical Ayurvedic perspectives with modern biomedical insights, highlighting the placenta’s structural complexity, functional diversity, and clinical significance. By examining both traditional and contemporary viewpoints, the article underscores the placenta’s pivotal role in ensuring maternal well being and fetal survival.

Introduction

The placenta is a temporary yet vital organ that develops during pregnancy and serves as the essential interface between mother and fetus. Originating from the trophoblast of the blastocyst, it becomes fully functional by the end of the first trimester. Its dual maternal and fetal origin allows efficient exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste through chorionic villi, ensuring proper fetal growth and development.

Functionally, the placenta performs multiple critical roles:

• Nutritional: Transfers glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins to the fetus.

• Respiratory: Facilitates oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.

• Excretory: Removes fetal waste products such as urea and creatinine.

• Endocrine: Produces hormones including hCG, progesterone, estrogen, human placental lactogen (hPL), and relaxin, which sustain pregnancy and prepare the mother for lactation.

• Immunological: Acts as a selective barrier, preventing maternal immune rejection while allowing passive antibody transfer.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, the placenta is conceptually described as Apara, considered an Upadhatu (secondary tissue) of Rakta Dhatu. It is believed to nourish the fetus and transmit Prana (vital energy), indirectly reflecting its physiological importance in fetal development.

Structurally, placental formation begins in the second week of gestation. By 12 weeks, it assumes a discoid shape, weighing approximately 500–600 g and measuring about 20 cm in diameter. It contains both uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulatory systems and functions as a selective barrier.

Placental dysfunction can lead to serious complications such as placenta previa, placental abruption, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and placental insufficiency. Modern research emphasizes the placenta’s role in long-term health, linking its dysfunction to adult-onset metabolic disorders. Advances in molecular biology, including single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, have revealed complex signaling mechanisms governing placental development and maternal adaptation.

Conclusion

The placenta is far more than a transient support structure—it is a multifunctional organ essential for maternal fetal survival and long term health. Ayurvedic perspectives conceptualize it as Apara, emphasizing nourishment and vitality, while modern science provides detailed insights into its structural, biochemical, and immunological complexity. Recent research underscores its role as a sensor and regulator of maternal environment, capable of adapting to hypoxia, malnutrition, and stress to optimize fetal survival. Dysfunctional placental processes, such as impaired spiral artery remodeling or altered metabolic signaling, are now recognized as central to complications like preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and placental insufficiency. These conditions not only compromise pregnancy outcomes but also predispose offspring to chronic diseases later in life. Thus, the placenta should be regarded as a determinant of lifelong health. Integrating Ayurvedic wisdom with modern biomedical findings offers a holistic framework for maternal fetal medicine, acknowledging both physiological and spiritual dimensions of pregnancy. Continued research into biomarkers, stem cell therapies, and targeted interventions holds promise for reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity. Safeguarding placental health is therefore essential for ensuring safe pregnancies, healthy neonates, and resilient future generations.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Aleem Ahmad, Anam , Dr. Sonia Meend. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.