First Known Use: 1691
Dictionary
placenta
noun pla·cen·ta \plə-ˈsen-tə\
medical : the organ in mammals that forms inside the mother's uterus, nourishes the unborn baby, and is pushed out of the mother after the birth of the baby
plural pla·centas or pla·cen·tae\-ˈsen-(ˌ)tē\
Full Definition of PLACENTA
1
: the vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usually allantoic tissues; also : an analogous organ in another animal
2
: a sporangium-bearing surface; especially : the part of the carpel bearing ovules
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Origin of PLACENTA
New Latin, from Latin, flat cake, from Greek plakoenta, accusative of plakoeis, from plak-, plax flat surface — more at fluke
PLACENTAS Defined for Kids
placenta
noun pla·cen·ta \plə-ˈsen-tə\
Definition of PLACENTA for Kids
: the organ in most mammals by which the fetus is joined to the uterus of the mother and is nourished
Medical Dictionary
placenta
noun pla·cen·ta \plə-ˈsent-ə\
plural pla·centas or pla·cen·tae \-ˈsent-(ˌ)ē\
Medical Definition of PLACENTA
: the vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usually allantoic tissues permitting exchange of material by diffusion between the maternal and fetal vascular systems but without direct contact between maternal and fetal blood and typically involving the interlocking of fingerlike vascular chorionic villi with corresponding modified areas of the uterine mucosa—see abruptio placentae
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