What are the vessels in the umbilical cord?
The cord contains three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein. The vein carries oxygen and nutrients from the placenta (which connects to the mother’s blood supply) to the baby.
What does it mean if the umbilical cord only has 2 vessels?
Sometimes a two-vessel cord is a sign that the baby has other abnormalities—sometimes life threatening and sometimes not. If you have an umbilical cord with just two vessels, an ultrasound can be helpful to reassure you that your baby doesn’t have any other glaring problems.
What are the 3 umbilical vessels?
It has three blood vessels: one vein that carries food and oxygen from the placenta to your baby and two arteries that carry waste from your baby back to the placenta. A substance called Wharton’s jelly cushions and protects these blood vessels.
Is single umbilical artery a birth defect?
A single umbilical artery (SUA) is a malformation of the umbilical cord where only one artery instead of two is present. It may be associated with other birth defects. The pathogenesis of an SUA is thought to be secondary to vessel atrophy of a previously normal cord in the mid trimester.
What is a two cord vessel?
Definition / general. Two vessel cord (usually are 3 vessels) with a single artery and a single vein (a hypoplastic artery may be present)
What is the function of the umbilical artery?
The umbilical arteries are actually the latter of the internal iliac arteries (anterior division of) that supply the hind limbs with blood and nutrients in the fetus.
What is a 2 vessel cord in pregnancy?
A two-vessel umbilical cord could be a sign of birth defects in the heart. An umbilical cord is a thick, blood-rich cord that connects a baby to its mother during the gestation process. Most babies with a single umbilical artery are born without complications. A two vessel umbilical cord is usually harmless to both mother and babies.
