Question

Which one of the following is not the function of placenta?
A. Facilitates supply of oxygen and nutrients to the embryo.
B. Secretes estrogen.
C. Facilitates removal of carbon dioxide and waste material from embryos.
D. Secretes oxytocin during parturition.

Answer 1

After implantation, finger-like projection can be seen on the trophoblast and chorionic villi that are enclosed by the female internal reproductive organs which is the uterine tissue and maternal blood. The chorionic villi along with the uterine tissue become interdigitated with one another and form a ‘Placenta ‘between the developing embryo and maternal blood. The placenta supplies food to the growing fetus.

Complete step by step answer: The placenta is a cushion-like structure which acts as an endocrine tissue and produces several hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin, human placental lactogen, estrogens, progesterone, and relaxin hormone.

Let us look at all the options to get the appropriate answer,
-Facilitates the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the embryo: Placenta is also responsible for the process of excretion and this is a function of the placenta.
-Secretes estrogen: Several hormones are secreted by the placenta and estrogen is one in each of them.
-Facilitates removal of carbon dioxide and waste material from embryos: the placenta is employed to produce nutrients to embryos and helps in gas exchange. It’s a function performed by the placenta. -Secretes oxytocin during parturition: placenta secretes innumerable hormones to nourish embryos however it doesn’t secrete the hormone oxytocin that is employed for delivery of babies.
So, the correct option is D- 'Secretes oxytocin during parturition'.

Note: Placenta doesn’t secrete Pitocin rather it secretes relaxin for softening the animal tissue of pubic symphysis throughout the process of parturition. The placenta acts as a secretor and synthesizes massive quantities of proteins and a few hormones like human sac gonadotropins, sac thyrotropic hormone, estrogens, and progestogen. The metabolic activity of the placenta is nearly equal to that of the fetus.