Histopathology of fetal membrane rupture: a review of the literature.

Ideally, the histological examination of the fetal membranes should reveal something of the mechanism that ruptured them. However, like any investigation of the crime, there needs to be careful sifting of evidence and confirmation of the validity of inferences. In the case of membrane rupture, the histology must be correlated with the physics of rupture. The usual mental model of the physics of membrane rupture is based on our everyday experiences with the physical world of water balloons, cellophane wrappers, etc. First reviewed are aspects of that intuitive physical model that are important to understanding the histology. Then, the literature is reviewed for histologic correlation with physical and biological observations of membrane rupture.