The main physiological functions of placenta are include the followings:
1- Placenta permits oxygen and nutrients to diffuse through foetal blood from maternal blood. Altogether, CO2 and wastes diffuse from foetal blood into maternal blood at the placenta.
2-Also the placenta act as a protective barrier. Hence,most microorganisms cannot across it.
3-Placenta produces of some physiological hormones that are necessary to maintain pregnancy.
4-Placenta also act as storage for nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, iron and calcium