chorionic terminal villous capillary

terminal villous capillary

A capillary that is part of a chorionic terminal villus. This capillary is generally narrow, but displays sinusoidal dilations along its length, often at the points of acute bends. These dilations bring the capillary endothelium into close contact with the overlying syncytiotrophoblast to form a vasculosyncytial membrane.

Type Vessel
Structure parente capillary
Nom latin terminal villous capillary

Questions fréquentes

What is a chorionic terminal villous capillary?
A chorionic terminal villous capillary is a fetal capillary located within a chorionic terminal villus, the outermost functional unit of the placenta. These capillaries are generally narrow but display characteristic sinusoidal dilations along their length, especially at points of acute bends.
What is a vasculosyncytial membrane?
A vasculosyncytial membrane is a specialized thin zone in the terminal villi where the dilated chorionic terminal villous capillary endothelium is brought into very close contact with the overlying syncytiotrophoblast layer. This intimate apposition minimizes the diffusion distance between fetal blood and maternal intervillous blood, greatly facilitating the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products.
Why do terminal villous capillaries have sinusoidal dilations?
The sinusoidal dilations of the chorionic terminal villous capillaries serve to slow fetal blood flow in these regions, maximizing the time available for exchange with maternal blood. The dilations also create the vasculosyncytial membranes where the capillary wall and syncytiotrophoblast are thinned, reducing the diffusion distance for gases and nutrients.
How do terminal villous capillaries develop during pregnancy?
Placental vascularization begins early in the first trimester with vasculogenesis (de novo vessel formation) and angiogenesis (sprouting from existing vessels). During the third trimester, there is a marked expansion of capillary branching within the terminal villi in response to hypoxia-inducible factors and placental growth factors, significantly increasing the surface area available for maternal-fetal exchange.
What pathological conditions affect terminal villous capillaries?
Various placental pathologies can affect terminal villous capillaries. Fetal vascular malperfusion causes occlusive lesions in fetal vessels including terminal villous capillaries. Villous immaturity is characterized by insufficient capillary development for gestational age. Conversely, accelerated villous maturity with prominent vasculosyncytial membranes is seen in chronic hypoxic states such as high-altitude pregnancies or maternal diabetes.

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.