placental insufficiency

placental insufficiency,

an abnormal condition of pregnancy, manifested clinically by a retarded rate of fetal and uterine growth. One or more placental abnormalities cause dysfunction of maternal-placental or fetal-placental circulation sufficient to compromise fetal nutrition and oxygenation. Some of the abnormalities that can result in placental insufficiency are abnormal implantation of the placenta, multiple pregnancy, abnormal attachments of the umbilical cord or anomalies of the cord itself, and abnormalities of the placental membranes. Histopathologic abnormalities that can cause placental insufficiency include intervillous thrombi, placental infarction, and breaks in the placental membrane that result in fetal bleeding into the maternal circulation. Placental insufficiency also may result from placental senescence in postmaturity; systemic diseases, such as erythroblastosis fetalis and diabetes mellitus; or bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal infections. Also called placental dysfunction. See also intrauterine growth retardation, postmature infant.

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insufficiency [in″sŭ-fish´en-se]

inability to perform properly an allotted function; called also incompetence.

adrenal insufficiency abnormally diminished activity of the adrenal gland; called also hypoadrenalism.

adrenocortical insufficiency abnormally diminished secretion of corticosteroids by the adrenal cortex; see also addison's disease. Called also hypoadrenocorticism and hypocorticism.

aortic insufficiency inadequate closure of the aortic valve, permitting aortic regurgitation.

coronary insufficiency decreased supply of blood to the myocardium resulting from constriction or obstruction of the coronary arteries, but not accompanied by necrosis of the myocardial cells. Called also myocardial ischemia.

ileocecal insufficiency inability of the ileocecal valve to prevent backflow of contents from the cecum into the ileum.

mitral insufficiency inadequate closure of the mitral valve, permitting mitral regurgitation.

placental insufficiency dysfunction of the placenta, with reduction in the area of exchange of nutrients; it often leads to fetal growth retardation.

pulmonary insufficiency

1. pulmonary valve insufficiency.

2. respiratory insufficiency.

pulmonary valve insufficiency inadequate closure of the pulmonary valve, permitting pulmonic regurgitation.

respiratory insufficiency see respiratory insufficiency.

thyroid insufficiency hypothyroidism.

tricuspid insufficiency incomplete closure of the tricuspid valve, resulting in tricuspid regurgitation.

valvular insufficiency failure of a cardiac valve to close perfectly, causing valvular regurgitation; see also aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid insufficiency.

velopharyngeal insufficiency inadequate velopharyngeal closure, due to a condition such as cleft palate or muscular dysfunction, resulting in defective speech.

venous insufficiency inadequacy of the venous valves and impairment of venous return from the lower limbs (venous stasis), often with edema and sometimes with stasis ulcers at the ankle.