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placenta (plә-senītә) pl. placentas, placenītae  an organ characteristic of true mammals during pregnancy, joining mother and embryo or fetus. Its major function is to allow diffusion of nutrients from the mother's blood into the fetus's blood and diffusion of waste products from the fetus back to the mother. Anatomically, the placenta consists of a maternal or uterine portion and a fetal portion. The fetal portion is more superficial (facing the fetus) and is called the chorion. The maternal portion is deeper below the surface, is divided into lobes, and is covered by a delicate, transparent membrane of fetal origin. adj., placenītal., adj.




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