Placenta and Umbilical Cord
The placenta provides essential metabolic and endocrine support, while the umbilical cord serves as the vascular bridge between the fetus and the placenta.
| Structure | Development / Composition |
|---|---|
| Placenta | Derived from both maternal (decidua basalis) and fetal (chorion frondosum) tissue. |
| Umbilical Cord | Contains 2 umbilical arteries (deoxygenated blood to the placenta) and 1 umbilical vein (oxygenated blood to the fetus), all embedded in Wharton’s jelly. |
High-Yield Clinical Notes:
- Umbilical Arteries: Carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta. Derived from the internal iliac arteries.
- Umbilical Vein: Carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus (reaches the IVC via the ductus venosus).
- Clinical Correlate: Single umbilical artery (2-vessel cord) is associated with congenital anomalies, particularly renal and cardiovascular defects.
- Remnants: The umbilical artery becomes the medial umbilical ligament; the umbilical vein becomes the ligamentum teres hepatis.