Osmosis video - Development of the placenta

The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to support the developing embryo or fetus. It connects the developing fetus to the mother's blood supply. It acts as a bridge between the mother and the embryo or fetus, allowing nutrients and oxygen to flow from mom to fetus and waste products to flow from the fetus back to the mother. The placenta forms a few weeks after the embryo implants in the wall of the uterus.