Molar Pregnancy

Molar pregnancy is an abnormal form of pregnancy, characterized by the presence of a hydatidiform mole (or hydatid mole, mola hytadidosa). Molar pregnancy comprises two distinct entities, partial and complete moles. Complete moles have no identifiable embryonic or fetal tissues and arise when an empty egg with no nucleus is fertilized by two normal sperm. In contrast, a partial mole occurs when a normal egg is fertilized by two spermatozoa. Hydatidiform moles may develop into choriocarcinoma, a form of cancer. Pathophysiology: A complete mole contains no fetal tissue. Ninety percent are 46,XX, and 10% are 46,XY. All chromosomes are of paternal origin. An enucleate egg is fertilized by a haploid sperm (which then duplicates its chromosomes), or the egg is fertilized by 2 sperm. In a complete mole, the chorionic villi have grapelike (hydatidiform) swelling, and trophoblastic hyperplasia is present. A rare form of recurrent complete mole is biparental in origin and results from misexpression of imprinted genes. This type of mole occurs when maternal imprints in the ovum are lost. Although the resulting conceptus has genes from both parents, loss of maternal imprinting gives the functional equivalent of 2 paternal genomes. Recurrent molar pregnancies of this type are familial and appear to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. A candidate region of chromosome arm 19q13.4 has been identified. With a partial mole, fetal tissue is often present. Fetal erythrocytes and vessels in the villi are a common finding. The chromosomal complement is 69,XXX or 69,XXY. This results from fertilization of a haploid ovum and duplication of the paternal haploid chromosomes or from dispermy. Tetraploidy may also be encountered. As in a complete mole, hyperplastic trophoblastic tissue and swelling of the chorionic villi occur. Female Reproductive Organs Organ 1. Vagina

Functions a. Passageway of menstrual flow b. Female organ for coitus; receives male penis c. Passageway for the fetus during birth 2. Uterus a. Houses and nourishes fetus until sufficiently mature to function outside the mother’s body b. Uterine muscles propels fetus outside. 3. Fallopian Tube a. Provides passageway for ovum as it travels from ovary to uterus. b. Site of Fertilization. 4. Ovaries a. Endocrine glands that secrete estrogen and progesterone. b. Contain ova within follicles for maturation during the woman’s reproductive life.