History of Monsters 63

A miscarriage attached to the parenchyma.

B. The chorion with the parenchyma.

C. & D. The amnion, an extremely thin membrane that immediately envelops the fetus.

It should be noted at this point that there are only two membranes enveloping the fetus, as the most learned Paré observed, despite what ancient authors wrote concerning three membranes (the chorion, the allantois, and the amnion). In truth, the fetus is seen to be wrapped only in the chorion and the amnion. The ancient writers added that third membrane, the allantois, based on observations they had made in animals.