Final answer:
The placenta facilitates the transfer of substances between the mother and fetus through various features such as permeability to lipid-soluble substances, simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
The placenta facilitates the transfer of substances between the mother and fetus through various features:
- The placenta is permeable to lipid-soluble substances like alcohol, nicotine, barbiturates, and certain pathogens
- Some substances cross via simple diffusion, including oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Other substances cross through facilitated diffusion, such as water-soluble glucose
- Amino acids and iron are moved through the placenta via active transport