UMBILICAL CORD AND PLACENTAL MALARIA

UMBILICAL CORD

The umbilical cord (also called the birth cord of funiculus umbilicalis) is  the connecting  cord from the developing embryo  or fetus  to the placenta . during prenatal development the  umbilical cord is  physiologically  and  genetically part  of  the fetus and (in  humans)  normally contains two arteries (The  umbilical  arteries ) and  one vein (The  umbilical  vein)  buried within Whantons Jelly. The umbilical vein supplies the fetus with oxygenated, nutrient –rich blood from the placenta.  The fetal heart pumps deoxygenated, nutrient depleted blood through the umbilical arteries back to the placenta.

PLACENTAL MALARIA

Much of the deleterious effect o malaria in pregnancy is probably due to placental malaria. This is especially so. In women   who were prior to pregnancy semi-immune (Uneke et al, 2008) malaria parasites may often be found in large number sequestrated in the placenta where none can be found in the blood (Mohmond  2007) . It is this placenta malaria that mostly affects the fetal life. the  practical implication of this  are obvious, a negative blood slide  examination for malaria parasite in pregnant  women does not  rule  out the diagnosis because   it is possible that citizen based rapid diagnostic test will prove more sensitive than conventional  microscopy   in detecting placental malaria or at  least identify some   increase  risk of  still birth  and premature birth.  Deterioration in placental function may occur, causing transient fatal. Hypoxia (Andrews, lanzer 2002).

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