During pregnancy, the fetus is completely dependent on the mother for oxygen supply. The fetus does not breathe air in the womb as it receives its oxygen supply from the placenta, which is connected to the mother’s uterine wall and functions as a temporary organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus.
The process of oxygen transfer from the mother to the fetus occurs through the placenta, which is a specialized organ that attaches to the uterine wall and connects the fetus to the mother’s blood supply. The placenta is responsible for the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the mother and the fetus.
The placenta contains tiny blood vessels called chorionic villi, which are surrounded by the mother’s blood. These villi are responsible for absorbing oxygen from the mother’s blood and transferring it to the fetal blood through the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is a flexible tube-like structure that connects the fetus to the placenta and contains two arteries and one vein.
The fetal blood contains a specialized form of hemoglobin, which has a higher affinity for oxygen than the adult form of hemoglobin. This enables the fetus to extract oxygen from the mother’s blood more efficiently.
As the fetus grows and develops, its need for oxygen increases, and the placenta adapts to meet this demand by increasing its surface area and the number of chorionic villi. The placenta also produces hormones that help to regulate the maternal and fetal blood flow and maintain the integrity of the uterine lining.
In summary, the fetus does not breathe in the womb, but instead receives oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood through the placenta and umbilical cord. The placenta plays a critical role in providing the developing fetus with the necessary oxygen supply for growth and development.
