3D modelling identifies key factors of nutrient exchange in the human placenta

What is it about?

In our new study we show how the irregular three-dimensional structure of a placental terminal villus determines its capacity to exchange solutes such as oxygen between mother and fetus.

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Why is it important?

Combining image analysis and computational fluid dynamics, we can now quantify mathematically the exchange capacity of individual terminal villi. We now anticipate that this advance will aid the development of larger-scale computational models of placental function. We hope that our new understanding of the role of placental geometry in fetal development will help clinicians address diseases where placental structure is compromised.