Invited review. A contemporary approach to placental pathology.
A brief description is given of the significance of gross and histological abnormalities of the placenta. The question of placental ageing is discussed and the possible ill-effects of inflammation and immune-mediated damage to the placenta considered. Finally, the pathology of the utero-placental vasculature is outlined, and the view is expressed that most cases of apparent 'placental insufficiency' are, in reality, due to maternal vascular insufficiency.
D000375:Aging; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007238:Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D007239:Infections / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010925:Placental Function Tests; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology
D006680:HLA Antigens