Key Points • Perinatal autopsy (examination after death) fulfils several roles, including determination or clarification of the underlying diagnosis, answering specific questions raised by parents and clinicians, quality assurance, governance…
Key Points • The heart is largely derived from mesoderm. • A single heart tube forms with venous and arterial connections. It elongates by addition of cells at either end…
Key Points • Pathological examination of the placenta may provide useful information regarding the underlying mechanisms of a range of pregnancy complications that may guide future management and improve understanding…
Key Points • The development and structure of the human haemochorial placenta • The development of the uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulations Introduction This chapter highlights areas in which developmental placental…
Key Points • Maternofetal exchange across the placenta provides the solutes and water needed for fetal development and growth and enables the waste products of fetal metabolism to be transferred…
Key Points • The extravillous pathway of trophoblast differentiation is essential for the development of the fetoplacental blood supply. • As they invade into the maternal decidua, extravillous trophoblast cells…
Key Points • Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy are the commonest early pregnancy complications. • The diagnosis of early pregnancy failure should be made on transvaginal ultrasound scan given its high…
Key Points • This chapter describes the tissue types present in early embryos and the interactions between these tissues. • The membrane systems and cytoskeletal elements within a typical cell…
Key Points • This chapter considers the language used within embryological research and how it is evolving. • The terms used to describe embryos, cells and tissues derive from the…
Key Points • This chapter presents the concepts and timing of embryonic development. • The problems of using staging systems to describe a continuous process are discussed. • The method…
