Abstract
The placenta handles the exchange of oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus. Normal placentation and placental development are critical for a successful pregnancy. In this study, the placenta is obtained from normal pregnancy and of normal vaginal delivery. The polymeric cast of the fetal vasculature of the full-term placenta is used to perform a numerical simulation of the blood perfusion in the placenta. Vascular corrosion casting is an established method of anatomical preparation that has proven to be an an excellent tool for detailed three-dimensional (3D) morphological examination of normal and pathological microcirculation. Performed numerical simulation indicated that the velocity profiles in the placental vessels are close to parabolic profiles. Keywords: placenta, corrosion cast, numerical simulation, fetoplacental vasculature