Lecture notes HECS1130 Midwifery Basics (HECS1130)

HECS1130 Midwifery Basic (17th Oct 2024):

Placenta pre-session task:
Anatomical variations in the placenta (Myles Textbook for Midwives 17 th edition)

1. Succenturiate lobe




This form of placenta is the most significant of all variations of the placenta. A small
extra lobe is present, joined to the placenta with a blood vessel. The danger of this
type of placenta is that the smaller lobe may remain in the uterus after the birth of
the main placenta. This may lead to haemorrhage and infection. Placentas must be
examined after birth for a hole in the membrane that may indicate the presence of a
succenturiate lobe.

2. Circumvallate placenta




In a circumvallate placenta, there is an opaque ring that is visible on the amnion side
(fetal side) of the placenta. This is formed by the fetal membranes doubling back onto
the fetal surface of the placenta. It can result in the membranes leaving the placenta
around the centre rather than the usual around the edges. This variation can be
associated with placental abruption.

3. Bipartite placenta