placenta

 
Pronunciation: /pləˈsɛntə/

noun (plural placentae /-tiː/ or placentas)

  • 1a flattened circular organ in the uterus of pregnant eutherian mammals, nourishing and maintaining the fetus through the umbilical cord.
  • 2 Botany (in flowers) part of the ovary wall to which the ovules are attached.

Origin:

late 17th century: from Latin, from Greek plakous, plakount- 'flat cake', based on plax, plak- 'flat plate'