THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF THE FEMALE. 687 



Chronic Indurative Inflammation of the placenta may result in the for- 

 mation of circumscribed masses of cellular and loose, or dense and cica- 

 tricial, connective tissue, or in a diffuse formation of connective tissue 

 which may interfere with the nutrition of the foetus and cause abortion. 

 The new-formed connective tissue may undergo fatty degeneration or 

 calcification. 



In another class of cases the new connective tissue is formed mainly 

 in the walls of the vessels, particularly the arteries. This may occur in 

 circumscribed portions of the vessels, leading to nodular growths around 

 the arteries, or it may occur extensively along the various ramifications 

 of the vessels, converting them into thick fibrous cords. The change is 

 primarily in the adventitia, but all the coats of the vessel may become 

 involved, leading to more or less complete obliteration of the lumen. 



Various proliferative and indurative changes in the placenta may 

 occur as the result of syphilitic inflammation, 



Tuberculous inflammation of the placenta may occur in connection with 

 other tuberculous processes in the mother. 



TUMORS. 



Fragments of placenta remaining in the uterus after delivery may 

 serve as a nidus for a blood thrombus, or they may undergo prolifera- 

 tion, thus forming tumors, deciduomata. 



An hypertrophy of the villi of the chorioii may give rise to the fibrous 



FIG. 441. HYDATID MOLE. 

 Showing a small portion of the mass. 



