The placenta develops early in pregnancy but it takes several weeks before it is fully functional. What is its function?


The placenta weighs between 1-2 pounds at term. It is a highly vascularized structure and has many important functions. The placenta transfers nutrients, hormones, oxygen, and other substances from mom to baby. In exchange, the placenta removes metabolic wastes from the fetus and allows passage back into the mother's blood for excretion by the mother's lungs and kidneys. The placenta is also a source of several hormones that serve a variety of functions during pregnancy.

Nutritional Science

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Which of the following statements is true?

A. Each year, an estimated 300,000 Americans develop a food-borne illness and as many as 300 of these persons die as a result.  B. Food intoxication outbreaks that result from ingesting aflatoxins disable or kill thousands of Americans annually. C. People who consume the toxin produced by E. coli O157:H7 should seek immediate medical attention.  D. If people with the stomach flu are treated with antibiotics immediately, their chances of survival improve considerably. 

Nutritional Science

Wasting is a condition characterized by

A) short-stature-for-age. B) decreased Caloric intake. C) extreme thinness. D) nutrient overload.

Nutritional Science

Which of the following vegetable oils is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids?

a. Corn b. Flaxseed c. Sesame d. Coconut

Nutritional Science

The kernels for which of the following grains must be rinsed before cooking to remove the naturally bitter coating?

a. triticale b. amaranth c. quinoa d. kamut

Nutritional Science