Length of the Human Umbilical Cord at Term

Abstract

The length of the normal umbilical cord at term has a wide range. A total of 538 normal cords, when measured and tabulated, formed a continuous series with a peak number of instances at 24 in. (61 cm.), the curve falling gradually to the maximum of 51 in. (129 cm.) recorded. In other words, long cords are not special events, but terminal members of a normal range, and, as such, are to be interpreted in the context of those factors which determine foetal growth in general. But very little correspondence was found between the length and the foetal or placental weight of each child. This negative finding shows that foetal blood-vessels, when unconditioned spatially by contiguous tissues, grow in an autonomic way, in contrast to their growth within the foetus, in which tissues are shaped by interaction between the cells of an organ and its vascular framework. In some foetal malformations there is evidence that the initial lesion may be an unconditioned growth of bloodvessels akin to that obtaining in the normal cord. The data in this series were ascertained by Miss Davies, labour ward superintendent, of the Liverpool Maternity Hospital, and by Miss Stewart, midwifery superintendent of Whiston Hospital. © 1964, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.