Gross Examination of the Placenta

Gross examination of the placenta is important to identify lesions and prepare material for histologic sectioning. The umbilical cord shows many variations, some of which may be associated with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. Membranous processes often relate to ascending infection, passage of meconium, or hemorrhage. Many villous lesions are the result of processes in the maternal or fetal circulation. Infarcts are common but need to be carefully identified on gross examination. Although certain routine histologic sections should be done on all placentas, the gross examination guides the selection and reveals other important aspects of the placenta to evaluate.