[Analysis of the vascular morphology of the placenta in normal pregnancies and in intrauterine fetal growth retardation].

8% barium sulfate was used in 70 cases of placental angiography. The placentas were studied and classified, including normal placentas and intrauterine growth retarded fetus (IUGR) placentas. In 14 of 20 IUGR cases placental cotyledonic artery was thin and less-branched, while it was so in only 5 of the normal cases. (P less than 0.005) Cotyledon is the basic functional unit, so the thin and less-branched cotyledon leads to the shortage of blood supply for fetus and then influences fetal growth and development. Thus is revealed the relationship between IUGR fetus and placental vascular morphology.