RESUMEN
This study was carried out on 30 women during labor to determine the Possible significance of the tone of the umbilical cord [UC] at birth with regard to the neonatal condition and whether the change of the tone is associated with any change in the UC histology. Immediately after birth, the tone of the UC was determined by gentle digital palpation. The neonatal condition was assessed by Apgar score. A piece of the UC was obtained by cutting after double clamping without miking. Then it was prepared and stained with hematoxyline and eosin; orcien. Masson's trichrome and periodic acid Schiff. This study showed a positive correlation between tone of the UC and neonatal Apgar score. As regards the histopathological changes, it was found that the muscle fibers of the media were widely separated by connective fibers in both umbilical artery and vein; also increased elastic fibers in subendothelial layer of the vein and its decrease in the arteries; and increased collagen fibers as compared to muscle fibers in arteries in cases showing poor UC tone