Umbilical Vein (Noun)
Meaning
A vein in the umbilical cord; returns nutrient blood from the placenta to the fetus.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The left umbilical vein is the only vein in the umbilical cord that carries oxygenated blood and nutrients from the placenta to the fetus.
- In the fetus, the umbilical vein enters the liver and joins the ductus venosus, which then drains into the inferior vena cava.
- During fetal development, the umbilical vein is responsible for supplying the fetus with oxygen and nutrients from the mother's bloodstream.
- The umbilical vein serves as a vital conduit for the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the fetus and the placenta.
- After birth, the umbilical vein closes and eventually becomes the ligamentum teres hepatis, a fibrotic remnant that serves as a landmark in the liver.