Question:easy
What does the umbilical artery do?
What does the umbilical artery do?
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Remember that in fetal circulation, arteries carry blood away from the fetal heart -- regardless of oxygen content.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Carrying deoxygenated blood from fetus to placenta
- Carrying oxygenated blood from placenta to fetus
- Provide nutrients
- None of the above
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Key concept -- Fetal circulation vessels:
The umbilical cord contains 2 arteries + 1 vein (AVA rule: Arteries carry blood Away from heart).
Umbilical artery: Carries deoxygenated blood + metabolic waste from fetal circulation to the placenta. Two arteries arise from the left and right internal iliac arteries of the fetus.
Umbilical vein: Carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood back from the placenta to the fetal liver (then via ductus venosus to IVC).
Why the confusion? Normally arteries are oxygenated (in postnatal life), but in fetal circulation the umbilical artery is deoxygenated -- the opposite of adult convention. Direction of flow relative to heart defines artery/vein here.
\[\boxed{\text{Umbilical artery: deoxygenated blood, fetus} \to \text{placenta}}\]
The umbilical cord contains 2 arteries + 1 vein (AVA rule: Arteries carry blood Away from heart).
Umbilical artery: Carries deoxygenated blood + metabolic waste from fetal circulation to the placenta. Two arteries arise from the left and right internal iliac arteries of the fetus.
Umbilical vein: Carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood back from the placenta to the fetal liver (then via ductus venosus to IVC).
Why the confusion? Normally arteries are oxygenated (in postnatal life), but in fetal circulation the umbilical artery is deoxygenated -- the opposite of adult convention. Direction of flow relative to heart defines artery/vein here.
\[\boxed{\text{Umbilical artery: deoxygenated blood, fetus} \to \text{placenta}}\]
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