| • The blue arrows point to syncytiotrophoblast nuclei.
• Green arrow point to some residual cytotrophoblast nuclei.
• The fetal blood vessels are peripheral but do not form vasculosyncytial membranes. |
| • The blue arrows point to syncytiotrophoblast nuclei.
• Green arrow point to some residual cytotrophoblast nuclei.
• The fetal blood vessels are peripheral but do not form vasculosyncytial membranes. |
| Normal Villi |
| Etiology |
• Not applicable |
| Pathogenesis |
• Not applicable |
| Epidemiology |
• Not applicable |
| Clinical |
• Not applicable |
| General Gross Description |
• Spongy red tissue comprising the bulk of the placenta bounded by fetal surface (chorionic plate) and maternal surface (basal plate) |
| General Micro Description |
• Early in gestation villi are covered by a complete layer of syncytiotrophoblast overlying a complete layer of cytotrophoblast. • Trophoblast is keratin positive but serves as endothelium for intervillous space. • At term there is a single trophoblast layer with scattered knotted synctial trophoblast nuclei • Trophoblast rests on basement membrane • Interior of villus contains connective tissue, Hofbauer cells (macrophages) and fetal vasculature which proliferates and ramifies throughout gestation • By term, the terminal villi contain vasculosyncytial membranes in which the basement membrane of the fetal capillary apposes the basement membrane of the trophoblast • During gestation the terminal villi diminish in cross sectional area and have progressively larger cut surface composed of vascular profiles |
| Reference |
• Benirschke K, Kaufmann P. Pathology of the human placenta, 3rd ed. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1995, pp. 116-142.
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