What does placenta mean?
A placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. Through the umbilical cord, it forms a functional connection between the developing embryo or fetus and the mother, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach the fetus while waste products are removed. It also produces hormones that help maintain pregnancy and prepare the body for birth. The placenta is delivered after the baby and is sometimes informally called the afterbirth. In obstetrics, its location and condition are important: abnormalities such as placenta previa, placenta accreta, and placental abruption can complicate pregnancy or delivery. Although the placenta performs several essential tasks, it does not directly mix maternal and fetal blood; exchange occurs across specialized placental tissues. The word is also widely used in medical terminology, including “placental abruption,” and metaphorically in literature for nourishment, dependency, or an intimate connection.
nounA temporary organ that forms in the uterus during pregnancy, connecting the developing embryo or fetus to the mother through the umbilical cord. It enables the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste and produces hormones that support pregnancy.
- The temporary maternal-fetal organ formed during pregnancy that supports fetal development, facilitates material exchange between mother and fetus, and secretes pregnancy-related hormones.
"The doctor monitored the placenta closely throughout the pregnancy."
"An ultrasound showed that the placenta was positioned normally."
"After the birth, the placenta was examined for signs of inflammation or damage."
“Placentas” is the standard plural in general modern English. “Placentae” is also used in medical and scientific contexts.
"The twins shared a single placenta."
The word placenta comes from Latin for “flat cake,” an apt description of the organ’s broad, disc-like shape.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does placenta come from?
The English word comes through Latin from placenta, meaning “a flat cake,” a usage rooted in the organ’s broad, cake-like shape. The Latin word derives from Greek plakētos, meaning “flat” or “a flat cake,” ultimately related to plax, “a flat plate or cake.” The anatomical sense developed in the early modern period.
Related word forms
How placenta is actually used
In medical usage, the term is precise and generally formal. The everyday expression “afterbirth” refers to the placenta and its associated membranes after delivery.