Anatomy and Pathology of the Placenta 1

Question 1

What are the membranes of the placenta?

Answer 1

• Amnion
• Chorion (fetal)
• Parietal decidua (maternal)

Question 2

What are the important structures in the umbilical cord?

Answer 2

• Two arteries and a vein (all fetal)

Question 3

What are the maternal compartments of the placenta?

Answer 3

• Basal plate
  
  • maternal decidua with invading fetal trophoblast cells and remodeled maternal vasculature
• Parietal decidua

Question 4

What are the fetal compartments of the placenta?

Answer 4

• Chorionic plate
  
  • fetal surface with large fetal vessels ramifying from umbilical cord
• Umbilical cord

Question 5

What is the villous parenchyma?

Answer 5

• Chorionic villi
  
  • exchange between maternal circulation of the intervillous space and fetal villous circulation