Figure 2.

A scheme showing the potential contributions of senescence in various intrauterine tissue compartment to the process of parturition and preterm birth. Progressive senescence in the maternal decidua can structurally weakens its anchoring role to the mother, while senescence in the fetal membranes results in mechanical weakening and can lead to rupture of membranes. Myometrial contractility can also promote decidual and fetal membrane weakening via mechanical shear stress, which can be heighted by local, intrauterine SASP, resulting in parturition. SASP, senescence-associated secretory phenotype.