Connective Tissue

Umbilical cord

Examine the cord at low power and note that there are three vessels in cross-section.(Ignore their detail structure). Study the connective tissue in between the vessels. It is characterized by the presence of large amounts of ground substance which gives it a jellylike quality(Wharton's jelly). The cells are widely scattered. The cytoplasm of the cells cannot always be distinguished from the intercellular fibrous material and precipitated mucoid mateerial.