Physiology of Pregnancy
Liu Wei
Department of Ob & Gy
Renji hospital
Normal Pregnancy
? Pregnancy
The course that the embryo and the
fetus grow in the maternal body
? Stages of pregnancy
1,Early pregnancy,≤12 weeks
2,Mid pregnancy,≥13 weeks,≤27 weeks
3,Late pregnancy:≥28 weeks
4,Term pregnancy:≥37 weeks,<42 weeks
Formation of Embryo
? Fertilization
1,Place,oviduct (ampulla)
2,Process
capacitation → acrosome reaction→
penetrate the zona pellucida→
second meiosis →zygote
Formation of Embryo
? Implantation
1,requirement
1) Disappear of zona pellucida
2) Formation of syncytiotrophoblast
3) Synchronized development of
blastocyst and endometrium
4) Adequate progesterone
Formation of Embryo
2,Process
1) morula (day 3) → enter uterine
cavity (day 4) → early
blastocyst→ late blastocyst
(day 6-7) → implantation
2) location→ adherence→
penetration
Development of embryo and fetus
? Definition
1,embryo,≤ 8 weeks
2,Fetus,≥ 9 weeks,human
shape
Development of embryo and fetus
? Physiology of fetus
1,Circulation
1) fetus ←→placenta←→ mater
2) 1 umbilical vein (full of oxygen),
2 umbilical artery (lack of
oxygen)
3) Mixed blood (vein and artery)
Development of embryo and fetus
Development of embryo and fetus
2,Hematology
1) Erythropoiesis
From yolk sac,3 weeks
From liver,10 weeks
From bone marrow and spleen,
term (90%)
EPO production,32nd week
Development of embryo and fetus
2) Fetal hemoglobin
Fetal hemoglobin,early pregnancy
Adult hemoglobin,32nd week
Term,fetal type Hb 25%
3) White cells
Leukocytes,8 week
Lymphocytes (antibody production),12
week,thymus and spleen
Development of embryo and fetus
3,Gastrointestinal tract
1) drink amniotic fluid,4th month
2) no proteolytic activity
3) enzymatic deficiencies in liver,
bilirubin is not easy to be clear,
Development of embryo and fetus
4,Kidney
Its function begins at 11-14th week
5) Endocrinology
1) Fetal thyroid,the first endocrine
gland (6th week),synthesize
thyroxine at 12th week
2) Fetal adrenal cortex,widen (20th
week),a fetal zone,synthesize
steroid hormones (E3,liver placenta
mater)
Placenta
? Structure
1,Primary villus
syncytiotrophoblast
cytotrophoblast
2,Secondary villus
3,third class vilus
fetal capillary enter the stroma
Placenta
? Function
1,metabolism
1) Exchange of O2 and CO2
2) Exchange of nutritive factors and
waste
2,Defensive
Limited,IgG,virus,drug
Placenta
3,Endocrine
1) HCG
2) HPL
3) E
4) P
5) Oxytocinase
6) Cytokines and Growth Factors
4,Immunity tolerance
Fetal membranes
? Structure
chorion and amnion
? Amnion
A double-layered translucent
membrane
Become distended with fluid
Umbilical Cord
? Structure
amnion,yolk sac,one vein,two
artery and Wharton jelly
? Length
30-70cm
Amniotic fliud
? Source
1,exudation of fetal membranes
(early pregnancy)
2,Fetal urine
3,Fetal lung
4,Exudation of amnion and fetal
skin
Amniotic fliud
? Absord
1,Fetal membrane
2,Umbilical cord
3,Fetal skin
4,Fetal drinking
? Feature
1000-1500ml at 36th-38th week (peak),
transparent → slightly turbid
Amniotic Fliud
? Function
1,Protect fetal
move freely,warm
2,Protect mater
prevent infection
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Genital organs
1,Uterus
1) capacity,5ml-5000ml.weight,50g-
1000g
2) Hypertrophy of muscle cells
3) Endometrium→ decidua,basal
decidua,capsular decidua,true
decidua
4) Contraction,Braxton Hicks
5) Isthmus uteri,1cm→ 7-10cm
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
6) Cervix,colored
7) Ovary,placenta replaces ovary (10th
week)
8) Vagina,dilated and soft,pH↓ (anti-
bacteri bacteria)
9) Ligaments,relaxed
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Cardiovascular system
1,Heart,
move upward,hypertrophy of
cardiac muscle
2,Cardiac Output
increase by 30%,reach to peak at
32nd –34th week
3,Blood pressure
early or mid pregnancy Bp↓,late
pregnancy Bp↑,Supine hypotensive
syndrome
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Hematology
1,Blood volume
1) Increase by 30%-45% at 32nd –34th
(peak)
2) Relatively diluted
2,Composition
1) Red cells
Hb:130→ 110g/L,HCT:38%→ 31%,
2) White cells,slightly increase
3) Coagulating power of blood,↑
4) Albumin,↓,35 g/L
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? The Respiratory system
1,R rate,slightly ↑
2,vital capacity,no change
3,Tidal volume,↑ 40%
4,Functional residual capacity:↓
5,O2 consumption,↑ 20%
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? The urinary system
1,Kidney
1) Renal plasma flow (RFP):↑ 35%
2) Glomerular filtration rate (GFR):↑
50%
2,Ureter
Dilated (P↑ )
3,Bladder
Frequent micturation
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Gastrointestinal system
1) Gastric emptying time is
prolonged→ nausea,
2) The motility of large bowel is
diminished → constipation
3) Liver function,unchanged
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Endocrine
1,Pituitary (hypertrophy)
1) LH/FSH,↓
2) PRL:↑
3) TSH and ACTH:↑
2,Thyroid
1) enlarged (TSH and HCG↑ )
2) thyroxine↑ and TBG↑ → free T3 T4
unchanged
END
Liu Wei
Department of Ob & Gy
Renji hospital
Normal Pregnancy
? Pregnancy
The course that the embryo and the
fetus grow in the maternal body
? Stages of pregnancy
1,Early pregnancy,≤12 weeks
2,Mid pregnancy,≥13 weeks,≤27 weeks
3,Late pregnancy:≥28 weeks
4,Term pregnancy:≥37 weeks,<42 weeks
Formation of Embryo
? Fertilization
1,Place,oviduct (ampulla)
2,Process
capacitation → acrosome reaction→
penetrate the zona pellucida→
second meiosis →zygote
Formation of Embryo
? Implantation
1,requirement
1) Disappear of zona pellucida
2) Formation of syncytiotrophoblast
3) Synchronized development of
blastocyst and endometrium
4) Adequate progesterone
Formation of Embryo
2,Process
1) morula (day 3) → enter uterine
cavity (day 4) → early
blastocyst→ late blastocyst
(day 6-7) → implantation
2) location→ adherence→
penetration
Development of embryo and fetus
? Definition
1,embryo,≤ 8 weeks
2,Fetus,≥ 9 weeks,human
shape
Development of embryo and fetus
? Physiology of fetus
1,Circulation
1) fetus ←→placenta←→ mater
2) 1 umbilical vein (full of oxygen),
2 umbilical artery (lack of
oxygen)
3) Mixed blood (vein and artery)
Development of embryo and fetus
Development of embryo and fetus
2,Hematology
1) Erythropoiesis
From yolk sac,3 weeks
From liver,10 weeks
From bone marrow and spleen,
term (90%)
EPO production,32nd week
Development of embryo and fetus
2) Fetal hemoglobin
Fetal hemoglobin,early pregnancy
Adult hemoglobin,32nd week
Term,fetal type Hb 25%
3) White cells
Leukocytes,8 week
Lymphocytes (antibody production),12
week,thymus and spleen
Development of embryo and fetus
3,Gastrointestinal tract
1) drink amniotic fluid,4th month
2) no proteolytic activity
3) enzymatic deficiencies in liver,
bilirubin is not easy to be clear,
Development of embryo and fetus
4,Kidney
Its function begins at 11-14th week
5) Endocrinology
1) Fetal thyroid,the first endocrine
gland (6th week),synthesize
thyroxine at 12th week
2) Fetal adrenal cortex,widen (20th
week),a fetal zone,synthesize
steroid hormones (E3,liver placenta
mater)
Placenta
? Structure
1,Primary villus
syncytiotrophoblast
cytotrophoblast
2,Secondary villus
3,third class vilus
fetal capillary enter the stroma
Placenta
? Function
1,metabolism
1) Exchange of O2 and CO2
2) Exchange of nutritive factors and
waste
2,Defensive
Limited,IgG,virus,drug
Placenta
3,Endocrine
1) HCG
2) HPL
3) E
4) P
5) Oxytocinase
6) Cytokines and Growth Factors
4,Immunity tolerance
Fetal membranes
? Structure
chorion and amnion
? Amnion
A double-layered translucent
membrane
Become distended with fluid
Umbilical Cord
? Structure
amnion,yolk sac,one vein,two
artery and Wharton jelly
? Length
30-70cm
Amniotic fliud
? Source
1,exudation of fetal membranes
(early pregnancy)
2,Fetal urine
3,Fetal lung
4,Exudation of amnion and fetal
skin
Amniotic fliud
? Absord
1,Fetal membrane
2,Umbilical cord
3,Fetal skin
4,Fetal drinking
? Feature
1000-1500ml at 36th-38th week (peak),
transparent → slightly turbid
Amniotic Fliud
? Function
1,Protect fetal
move freely,warm
2,Protect mater
prevent infection
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Genital organs
1,Uterus
1) capacity,5ml-5000ml.weight,50g-
1000g
2) Hypertrophy of muscle cells
3) Endometrium→ decidua,basal
decidua,capsular decidua,true
decidua
4) Contraction,Braxton Hicks
5) Isthmus uteri,1cm→ 7-10cm
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
6) Cervix,colored
7) Ovary,placenta replaces ovary (10th
week)
8) Vagina,dilated and soft,pH↓ (anti-
bacteri bacteria)
9) Ligaments,relaxed
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Cardiovascular system
1,Heart,
move upward,hypertrophy of
cardiac muscle
2,Cardiac Output
increase by 30%,reach to peak at
32nd –34th week
3,Blood pressure
early or mid pregnancy Bp↓,late
pregnancy Bp↑,Supine hypotensive
syndrome
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Hematology
1,Blood volume
1) Increase by 30%-45% at 32nd –34th
(peak)
2) Relatively diluted
2,Composition
1) Red cells
Hb:130→ 110g/L,HCT:38%→ 31%,
2) White cells,slightly increase
3) Coagulating power of blood,↑
4) Albumin,↓,35 g/L
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? The Respiratory system
1,R rate,slightly ↑
2,vital capacity,no change
3,Tidal volume,↑ 40%
4,Functional residual capacity:↓
5,O2 consumption,↑ 20%
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? The urinary system
1,Kidney
1) Renal plasma flow (RFP):↑ 35%
2) Glomerular filtration rate (GFR):↑
50%
2,Ureter
Dilated (P↑ )
3,Bladder
Frequent micturation
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Gastrointestinal system
1) Gastric emptying time is
prolonged→ nausea,
2) The motility of large bowel is
diminished → constipation
3) Liver function,unchanged
Physiologic changes in pregnant woman
? Endocrine
1,Pituitary (hypertrophy)
1) LH/FSH,↓
2) PRL:↑
3) TSH and ACTH:↑
2,Thyroid
1) enlarged (TSH and HCG↑ )
2) thyroxine↑ and TBG↑ → free T3 T4
unchanged
END
