In this literature review the authors present the data on morphological and functional characteristics of heart which develop under the influence of acute and chronic hypoxia in the fetus and newborns. The data on the structural changes of hypoxic and ischemic origin in the heart have been summarized. The association between the structural adjustment of the cardiac muscle and the stage of placental chronic insufficiency has been identified. Much attention is paid to the pathogenesis of structural tissue formations of the heart in the underweight fetus and newborn. The problems of cardiac pathomorphology under the syndrome of intrauterine growth retardation, depending on its type are discussed. The authors discussed in detail the basic morphogenetic aspects of cardiogenic disorders that lead to the formation of complex cardiac defects. The data on minor cardiac abnormalities are presented; their morbid anatomy diagnostics has not been practically performed. The results of this reviewing the literature on cardiac pathomorphology emphasize the role of prenatal cardiovascular diseases diagnostics in the prenatal period; they draw the authors´ attention to improving the methods of diagnosing cardiovascular pathology at the perinatal stage. The morphological and functional manifestations of antenatal stress are in the focus of attention. The characteristics of the heterogeneous cardiomyopathies group is given; the difficulties of their clinical and pathologic diagnostics are discussed. The paper may be of interest for practitioners and teachers of higher medical schools.