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Umbilical Cord
       Definition
o        Umbilical cord is the connection between the foetus and the placenta (uterus) through        which the foetal circulation is maintained until birth.
       Structure
o        The umbilical cord consists of a tubular or cylindrical, long gelatinous tissue called the       
       Wharton's jelly
o        It contains in it the two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein.
o        Umbilical arteries convey the deoxygenated foetal blood from the foetal  heart to the placenta
o        The umbilical vein conveys oxygenated blood from the placenta to the foetal heart
o        The umbilical cord during the early stages contains the vitellointestinal duct the connection between the        midgut and the yolk sac
o        The umbilical cord is around 50 cm in length
o        It allows the foetus to move about feely inside the uterus.
o        The attachment to the placenta may be central, eccentric or velamentous.
o        It also contains a diverticulum of the yolk sac called the allantois which is related to the development of        the urogenital system

       Variations found in the umbilical cord
o        Knots - true knots - false knots - usually they do not cause any problem
o        Twisted cord - because of the rotating movements of foetus, the cord may get twisted like a rope - rarely only it causes injury to the foetus.
o        Umbilical cords of twins may get entangled if they share one amniotic cavity.

       Problems during delivery
o        Cord presentation -  gets compressed by the foetal head - leads to the death of the foetus
o        Cord prolapse - cord comes out and hangs
o        Cord around neck - once, twide or thrice around.

       Cord care
o        The umbilical cord ligated after the umbilical artery stops pulsating.
o        The end of the cord with the baby is clamped with a special clamp to prevent bleeding from the stump. -        cleaned by the touch of alcohol.- after about the first week the cord withers off
o        Cord blood contains stem cells. It may be collected and preserved since it may be a remedy for certain        diseases of the child.



       



       List of pictures
  1. Vessels inside the Umbilical Cord
  2. Umbilical Cord and The Baby
  3. Umbilical Cord Cut During Delivery
  4. Umibilica Cord Blood Drawn and preserved - used to cure certain diseases
  5. Umbilical Cord Clamps
  6. The vessels of the umbilical cord
  7. Marked Spiralling
  8. Twisted cord - caused
  9. two cords - single placenta
  10. Normal Three Vessel Cord
  11. Abnormal Two Vessel Cord
  12. Cord Around Neck - Baby Dead
  13. True Umbilical Knot
  14. True Umbilical Knot
  15. False or Pseudo Knot


cord prolapse
Umibilical Cord Blood Drawn and preserved – used to cure certain diseases
cord clamps
during delivery
true umbilical knot
torsion of the umbilical cord causing death of the fetus
pseudo knot or false knot
two vessel cord
Two umbilical arteries - blue - carrying deoxygenated blood - fetus to placenta
One umbilical vein - red - carrying oxygenated blood - placenta to fetus
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cord around neck - baby dead
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