Chorionic Villi, a term used in obstetrics, refers to finger-like projections that extend from the placenta into the uterus. The phonetic spelling of this term is /kɔːrɪənɪk ˈvɪlaɪ/. The word "chorionic" is pronounced with a long "o" sound followed by a short "i" sound, while "villi" is pronounced with a short "i" sound followed by a long "i" sound. The spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word, and its phonetic transcription can be useful in ensuring accurate communication in medical settings.
Chorionic villi are finger-like projections that develop on the outermost layer of the fertilized human egg, known as the chorion, during pregnancy. These villi are found on the surface of the developing embryo and serve as an essential connection between the developing fetus and the mother's uterus.
The chorionic villi are responsible for facilitating the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and the fetus. They form early in pregnancy and eventually develop into the placenta, which acts as a vital organ for the developing baby. The villi contain a network of blood vessels that allow for the exchange of oxygen and nutrients from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus, as well as the removal of waste products from the fetal blood.
Additionally, chorionic villi play a critical role in hormone production during pregnancy. They produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that helps support the growth of the baby and maintain the pregnancy by signaling the corpus luteum in the mother's ovary to continue producing progesterone.
Evaluation of the chorionic villi through chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can be performed during early pregnancy to obtain genetic information about the fetus. This procedure involves the extraction of a small sample of tissue from the chorionic villi, which can then be analyzed for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders.
Overall, chorionic villi are integral structures in the development of a healthy pregnancy, as they provide nourishment, oxygen, and hormone support to the growing fetus.
• Vascular projections from the chorion formed by the indentation of the trophoblast by buds from the mesoderm.
• Vascular processes on the chorion of the embryo in the early stages of its development, later entering into the formation of the placenta.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "chorionic" comes from the Greek word "chorion", which means "skin" or "membrane". The term "chorionic" is used to describe structures that are associated with or derived from the chorion, which is the outermost fetal membrane surrounding the developing embryo.
The term "villi" is derived from the Latin word "villus", which means "shaggy hair" or "tuft of hair". It is used to describe small finger-like projections or processes that are present on the surface of certain tissues. In the case of "chorionic villi", these refer to small, finger-like projections that develop on the chorion and extend into the wall of the uterus during pregnancy.
Therefore, the etymology of "chorionic villi" reflects the origin and nature of these structures as projections on the chorion.