How is the placenta adapted for diffusion?

Answer 1

At placenta, you have a membranes from mother and fetus come in close contact. The area of contact is fairly large, much more than you can imagine. Here the blood from mother and the fetus come in close contact, but does not get mixed up. Through this so called placental barrier, only very small molecules can pass. So all the amine acids, glucose, fat molecules ( may be fatty acids and glycerol) vitamins and minerals along with water can pass through this membrane. Globulin can pass but not albumin. That is the beauty of Nature.

Answer 2

The placenta is adapted for diffusion through several key features. Firstly, it has a large surface area due to its extensive branching structure, allowing for more efficient exchange of nutrients and waste products between the maternal and fetal circulations. Secondly, the placental membrane is thin, which reduces the distance over which diffusion occurs, increasing the rate of exchange. Additionally, the placenta contains a rich supply of blood vessels to maintain a steep concentration gradient for diffusion to occur effectively.

Answer 3

The gut is adapted for diffusion through some small organelles which are known as villi. The villi are found on the walls of the small intestines which allows the gut to perform diffusion in digestion.

Answer 4

Gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse through and across tissues in response to differences in partial pressure.

In late pregnancy, the mean partial pressure of oxygen (P02) in maternal blood is considerably higher than in fetal blood. As a consequence, oxygen readily diffuses across the placenta from maternal to fetal blood. Despite its low PO2, fetal blood is able to transport essentially the same quantity of oxygen to tissues as maternal blood. This is because the hemoglobin concentration in fetal blood is about 50% higher than in maternal blood, and the majority of hemoglobin in the fetus is fetal hemoglobin, which has a higher oxygen carrying capacity than adult hemoglobin.

Carbon dioxide is produced abundantly in the fetus, and the PCO2 of fetal blood is higher than maternal blood. Carbon dioxide therefore diffuses from fetal blood, through the placenta, into the maternal circulation, and is disposed of by expiration from the mother's lungs.

Answer 5

it increases the surface area because they are projections from the surface of the ileum. they contain microvilli which also increase their surface area they contain a blood capillary and lacteal which allow the digested food to diffuse quickly into the bloodstream and hence be transported around the body

Answer 6

The placenta is adapted for diffusion through its large surface area, thin membrane, and rich blood supply. These adaptations allow for the efficient exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products between the mother's bloodstream and the fetus, supporting the development of the growing baby.