pla·cen·ta (pl -s n t)n. pl. pla·cen·tas or pla·cen·tae (-t  ) 1. a. A membranous vascular organ that develops in female mammals during pregnancy, lining the uterine wall and partially enveloping the fetus, to which it is attached by the umbilical cord. Following birth, the placenta is expelled. b. An organ with similar functions in some nonmammalian animals, such as certain sharks and reptiles. 2. Botany The part within the ovary of a flowering plant to which the ovules are attached. [New Latin, from Latin, flat cake, alteration of Greek plakoenta, from accusative of plakoeis, flat, from plax, plak-, flat land, surface; see pl  k-1 in Indo-European roots.]pla·cen tal adj. |
placenta [pləˈsɛntə]
n pl -tas, -tae [-tiː]
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the vascular organ formed in the uterus during pregnancy, consisting of both maternal and embryonic tissues and providing oxygen and nutrients for the fetus and transfer of waste products from the fetal to the maternal blood circulation See also afterbirth
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the corresponding organ or part in certain mammals
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) Botany
a. the part of the ovary of flowering plants to which the ovules are attached
b. the mass of tissue in nonflowering plants that bears the sporangia or spores
[via Latin from Greek plakoeis flat cake, from plax flat]
| placenta (pl-snt) 1. The sac-shaped organ that attaches the embryo or fetus to the uterus during pregnancy in most mammals. Blood flows between mother and fetus through the placenta, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and carrying away fetal waste products. The placenta is expelled after birth. 2. The part of the ovary of a flowering plant to which the ovules are attached. In a green pepper, for example, the whitish tissue to which the seeds are attached is the placenta. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  placenta - that part of the ovary of a flowering plant where the ovules formreproductive structure - the parts of a plant involved in its reproduction ovary - the organ that bears the ovules of a flower |
| 2. | placenta - the vascular structure in the uterus of most mammals providing oxygen and nutrients for and transferring wastes from the developing fetus embryonic membrane, caul, veil - the inner membrane of embryos in higher vertebrates (especially when covering the head at birth) vascular structure - a structure composed of or provided with blood vessels uterus, womb - a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus afterbirth - the placenta and fetal membranes that are expelled from the uterus after the baby is born |
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