Umbilical cord :

1. Length is 55 cm (Ranges from 30 – 100 cm) (so less than 30 cm is considered abnormally short )

2. 2 arteries and 1 vein (Left is left)

3. The Umbilical Arteries exhibit “Transverse intimal folds of Hoboken”

4. Extracellular matrix – Wharton’s jelly

5. Anatomically Umbilical cord is considered as fetal membrane

6. Diameter of placenta is 15 – 20 cm

7. About 2.5 cm thick

8. Weight 500 gms

9. Ratio of Placenta : fetal weight = 1:6

Maternal surface of placenta :

1. Formed by Decidua basalis

2. Dull red in colour, rough and spongy

3. 15 – 20 lobes or cotyledons

Fetal surface of Placenta :

1. Formed by chorion frondosum and chorionic plate

2. Fetal surface is covered by blood vessels .

Extra Points :

1. Nitabuch’s layer : Zone of Fibroid degeneration where Decidua and trophoblast meet

2. Hoffbaeur cells : Phagocytic cells in the connective tissue of Chorionic villi of placenta.

3. Placenta separates after the birth and the line of separation is – Decidua spongiosum

4. Human placenta is – Discoid (Hemochorial + Deciduate)

5. The chorion frondosum + Decidua basalis forms placenta

6. Formation of placenta begins at 6th week and completed by 12th week