Placenta: The wonder organ.

ABSTRACT

Placenta is the only organ to develop in adulthood and is the only one with a defined end date. The structure of placenta has a strong relation with pregnancy length, physical milieu of mother and a resemblance to the concept of ‘Imhotep(regarded as the first medico legal expert) showing relation between Forensic medicine histology, morphology and pathology. Anemia in pregnancy is found to be associated with variable histomorphological changes in placenta, which show a clear reflection for the poor fetal outcome. There is a threshold for the level of haemoglobin and consequently for oxygen transport below which placental function is impaired. This explains the increased frequency of premature births, foetal death and perinatal mortality and morbidity in anemia during pregnancy. The histomorphological findings of placenta in anemic mothers which are an adaptation to maternal hypoxia can correlate with the poor fetal outcome giving a documentary evidence and explanation against false implications of neonatal deaths. This makes placenta as the much required tool of present medico legal scenario.