What structure forms the connection between the mother and the developing fetus?

The placenta serves as a vital organ for the exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products between the mother and the developing fetus during pregnancy. It forms a direct connection to the fetus and is attached to the uterus, allowing it to effectively furnish the fetus with essential substances like oxygen and glucose while simultaneously facilitating the removal of carbon dioxide and waste materials.

In contrast to the placenta, other structures such as the oviduct are involved in the transport of the egg from the ovary to the uterus but do not participate in the exchange of materials once pregnancy has been established. The cervix acts as an opening to the uterus, playing a role during childbirth, but it is not responsible for the connection to the fetus. The umbilical cord is important as it connects the fetus to the placenta, transmitting nutrients and oxygen from the placenta to the fetus and carrying away waste, but it cannot be described as the structure forming the primary connection between the mother and the developing fetus. Thus, the placenta is correctly identified as the structure that provides the crucial link between these two organisms.