Chirality in the umbilical cord

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Abstract
Object To determine the chiral varieties of the vascular helix of the umbilical cord and find their normal proportions. Design Differences between the sexes were tested by a χ2 test and the hypothesis that left-handed types occur in 50% of cases was tested using the binomial distribution. Setting United Arab Emirates. Subject Gulf Arab singletons from consecutive normal births, 100 male and 100 female. Results Left-handed helices predominate at 76.5%; right-handed contribute 15.5%; mixed forms, where both chiralities co-exist, were found in 6.5%; indeterminable chirality due to poor helix formation, or varices, reached 1.5%. A significant sex difference could not be established. Chiral generation, on genetic and mechanical-rotational hypotheses, is discussed. Conclusion The chirality of the cord is easily determined and is the sole distinguishing feature of the cord. Chirality should be entered in the birth record and in pathological descriptions for whatever value it may have in relation to fetal, or postnatal, characteristics and morbidity.

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