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Updated: May 26, 2026
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Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
Published on: March 29, 2018
Variety in placental shape: when does it originate?
C M Salafia1, M Yampolsky, A Shlakhter
1Placental Analytics, LLC, 93 Colonial Avenue, Larchmont, NY, USA. carolyn.salafia@gmail.com
Placenta
|January 6, 2012
Summary
Placental shape and cord insertion variations originate early in pregnancy, influenced by factors like uterine position and the vasculogenic zone
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Developmental Biology
- Fetal Medicine
Background:
- The typical placenta is round with a central umbilical cord insertion, but variations are common.
- The timing of origin for placental shape and cord insertion variations is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate when placental shape and umbilical cord insertion variations originate during pregnancy.
- To correlate early pregnancy placental measures with term outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Correlated placental measures from published datasets obtained via ultrasonography at 11-14 weeks and term.
- Analyzed correlations between first-trimester cord marginality, placental roundness, placental thickness, chorionic vascular density, and placental shape.
Main Results:
- First-trimester cord marginality significantly correlated with cord marginality at delivery (r=0.509, p<0.0001).
- Early placental shape at 11-14 weeks was irregular and not correlated with delivered placental roundness.
- Placental position and vasculogenic zone shape influenced cord insertion and placental shape.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal cord insertion and multi-lobate placental shapes likely result from early developmental influences.
- These early influences include the shape of the vasculogenic zone and placental position within the uterus.
- Trophotropism later in pregnancy is less likely to be the primary cause of these variations.
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