title: [Echographic gross morphology and volumetry of human placenta in utero with regard to clinical significance].
abstract: Ultrasonographic volumetry and observation of shape were undertaken on the human placenta in utero of every gestational month and the relationships between either its volume or shape and the birthweight of the neonate were studied. The placenta was scanned at 1cm intervals along a longitudinal uterine axis. The area of each placentogram was measured with a planimeter and the volume was estimated by totalling the area. For reformation of the placenta, a one cm thick wooden plate was sawed to the shape of each placentograms and these were piled up to take the proper shape. A slight increase in the mean volume of the placenta was observed in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and a marked increase in the second trimester, and a clinically available increase in the curve of scanned placental volume, approximately 4.4% larger than that measured after delivery, was estimated. The shape of the individual placenta in utero varied considerably unlike that after delivery and might be classified roughly into three types. The extent of small or great placental volume for date babies ranged mostly within the normal limits and the difference in type was unrelated to the placental volume and weight of the neonate or of the placenta post partum.
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography