Absence of Wharton's jelly around the umbilical arteries.

Wharton's jelly is a specialized tissue which acts as supportive and protective structure substituting for the adventitia of the umbilical vessels. Absence of Wharton's jelly around the umbilical arteries is very rare and an unusual cause of perinatal mortality. We report a case of absent Wharton's jelly around the umbilical arteries with patent vitellointestinal duct--a rare association.