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Villitis was studied in placentas from 445 singleton infants from an ethnically homogeneous population with a good socioeconomic standard. There were 161 infants small for gestational age (SGA) and 284 appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Villitis was found in 12 SGA‐placentas (7.5 per cent) and 8 AGA placentas (2.8 per cent) (p < 0.05). The degree of villitis was also related to growth retardation (p < 0.05). Except for one placenta with villitis due to CMV infection, the cause of villitis could not be determined. No association was found with various studied factors such as hypertension, pre‐eclampsia, smoking or maternal pyrexia during pregnancy.

Singleton placentas from 330 consecutive births were examined for size, shape, cord insertion, allanto-chorial vascular pattern and lobes. These factors were considered regarding possible interactions and correlation to pregnancy and perinatal outcome. Marginal cord insertion was correlated to extrachorial and bilobate placenta and to magistral wr mixed allanto-chorial vascular pattern. A paucity of lobes (less than 15) was associated with extrachorial placenta, marginal cord insertion, pre-eclampsia, gestational age less than 38 weeks and small for gestational age infants. The common denominator for abnormal configuration and marginal cord insertion seemed to be the paucity of lobes.

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