The placenta, or the tree of life, is one of the most fascinating organs in the human body, supporting the unborn baby with functions they have yet to develop themselves.

The placenta works as the baby's lungs, liver, kidney and digestive system before they develop their own.The intricate network of blood vessels (red) from the baby are forming the tree like structures that can be observed in the placenta with light sheet microscopy, as well as the trophoblasts (green) that is facilitating the exchange between the mother and the baby. Using these 3D techniques will further increase the understanding of the structure and function of the placenta. In this movie, Dr Susanne Lager from the Department of Women's and Children's Health at Uppsala University will describe the content and teach us about placenta function, in 3D.

Watch the placenta movie and other educational movies at the HPA YouTube channel.

Acknowledgements:
Light sheet movies: Dr Csaba Adori, Karolinska Institutet
Interview: Dr Susanne Lager, Uppsala University
Source of tissue: Prof Fredrik Pontén, Uppsala University
Funding: Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Production: FaktaBruket, Stockholm