The developing embryo gets nutrition from the mother’s blood through a special tissue called the placenta. The placenta forms a connection between the embryo and the mother’s uterus. Tiny finger-like structures, called villi, grow into the uterine tissue, increasing the surface area for exchange. The mother’s blood vessels surround these villi and supply oxygen, glucose, amino acids, and other nutrients, which diffuse into the embryo’s blood. At the same time, waste products from the embryo pass into the mother’s blood for removal.