Umbilical cord diameter. This diameter decreases rapidly within the placenta. The fully patent umbilical artery has two main layers: an outer layer consisting of circularly arranged smooth muscle cells and an inner layer which shows rather irregularly and loosely arranged cells embedded in abundant ground substance staining metachromatic. The smooth muscle cells of the layer are rather poorly differentiated, contain only a few tiny myofilaments and are thereby unlikely to contribute actively to the process of post-natal closure. The umbilical cord contains Wharton's jelly, a gelatinous substance made largely from mucopolysaccharides which protects the blood vessels inside. It contains one vein, which
Umbilical cord prolapse should be suspected if there is a sudden decrease in the babies heart rate during labor. Seeing or feeling the cord confirms the diagnosis. Management focuses on quick delivery, usually by cesarean section. Filling the bladder or pushing up the baby by hand is recommended until this can take place. The knee-chest position, or if this is not possible Trendelenburg position may be used. With appropriate management, the majority of cases have good outcomes. Umbilical cord prolapse occurs in about 1 in 500 pregnancies. The risk of death of the baby is about 10%. Much of this risk is due