The tissue itself
Wharton's jelly is the gelatinous connective tissue that surrounds and cushions the vessels within the umbilical cord. Its biological role is mechanical: it protects those vessels from compression and torsion during movement.
It was described by Thomas Wharton in the seventeenth century, which is where the name comes from.
Composition
Structurally it is a mucoid connective tissue with a high water content, rich in glycosaminoglycans — hyaluronic acid prominent among them — along with collagen fibres and proteoglycans. That composition is what gives it its cushioning properties.
These are the structural components relevant to allograft use. Descriptions emphasising cellular content should be read carefully against the homologous use requirement, since a product's permitted use is defined by the basic function the tissue performed in the donor.
Why it is used
The rationale rests on that native mechanical role. A tissue whose function in the donor was cushioning and structural support may be used for cushioning and structural support in a recipient — that correspondence is what homologous use means.
Umbilical cord tissue is also obtained without risk to donor or infant, following scheduled delivery and with consent, which is part of why birth tissue became a common source.
This article covers general science and published research. Whether any approach is appropriate for you is a clinical question, answered by a licensed provider through a good-faith exam.
Movera Wellness Institute. Medical services are provided by licensed California practitioners. Supervising physician: Dr. Arnold S. Kremer, DO (CA license #20A4242).