Umbilical cord

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

PLACENTA

Diameter of placenta is 15 – 20 cm
About 2.5 cm thick
Weight 500 gms
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