THE PLACENTA IS A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE DURING PREGNANCY. IT PRODUCES THREE HORMONES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR A SUCESSFUL
PRENGNANCY.
HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (HCG) IS PRODUCED AFTER THE BLASOCYST IMPLANTS ITSELF INTO THE ENDOMETRIUM
OF THE UTERUS. IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE CORPUS LUTEUM WHICH PRODUCES THE HORMONES ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE.
THE PROGESTERONE ENSURES THAT THE FUNCTIONAL ZONE OF THE ENDOMETRIUM DOES NOT DISINTGERATE AND THE PREGNANCY IS
MAINTAINED UNTIL THE PLACENTA IS FORMED AND CAN SECRETE ITS OWN ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE.
RELAXIN IS SECRETED BY THE PLACENTA DURING THE COURSE OF THE PREGNANCY. IT INCREASES FLEXIBILTY
OF THE PELVIS AND CAUSES DILATION OF THE CERVIX
HUMAN PLACENTAL LACTOGEN IS ANOTHER PLACENTAL HORMONE. IT ASSISTS OTHER HORMONES IN PREPARING
THE MAMMARY GLANDS FOR MILK PRODUCTION.
