A flexible generative algorithm for growing in silico placentas
Fig 2
Schematic representation of important placental morphological parameters.
(A) Typical descriptions of chorionic surface shape and size rely on ellipsoid representations characterised by major (rmaj) and minor (rmin) radii [36, 37] and half the placenta thickness (thalf), as represented in a side view of the placental surface (left side) [20]. Other relevant parameters represented in an axial view of the chorionic plate (right side) include the position of the umbilical cord insertion in the chorionic plate (green star), determined by the distance of the insertion from the ellipsoid centre (dc) and the minimum distance between the insertion and the periphery of the chorionic plate (mt) [36]. (B) Blood vessels are typically characterised by length (l) and diameter (d) (left side) and 3D branching angles (θ) (middle) [20, 21]. Planar branching angles are defined upon vessel branching properties (right side): The parent-daughter branching angle of a certain segment is defined as the angle of a daughter segment from its parent’s axis (e.g. θpd), while the daughter-daughter branching angle is represented as the angle between two daughter segments (e.g. θdd).