title: Hemodynamic aspects of normal human feto-placental (umbilical) circulation.
abstract: Understanding the changes in normal circulatory dynamics that occur during the course of pregnancy is essential for improving our knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms associated with feto-placental diseases. The umbilical circulation is the lifeline of the fetus, and it is accessible for noninvasive assessment. However, not all hemodynamic parameters can be reliably measured in utero using currently available technology. Experimental animal studies have been crucial in validating major concepts related to feto-placental circulatory physiology, but caution is required in directly translating the findings of such studies into humans due to species differences. Furthermore, it is important to establish normal reference ranges and take into account gestational age associated changes while interpreting the results of clinical investigation. Therefore, it is necessary to critically evaluate, synthesize and summarize the knowledge available from the studies performed on human pregnancies to be able to appropriately apply them in clinical practice. This narrative review is an attempt to present contemporary concepts on hemodynamics of feto-placental circulation based on human studies.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.|Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1997-3107
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sven-Erik
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7004-504X
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sonesson
authors.affiliation: Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2276-1508
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Flo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital and University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3868-5936
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Räsänen
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odibo
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Doppler; Umbilical circulation; fetus; hemodynamics; placenta; placental blood flow; umbilical artery; umbilical vein