A normal umbilical cord contains?

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

A normal umbilical cord is comprised of three blood vessels.
Specifically, it contains two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein.
The two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and metabolic waste away from the fetus to the placenta for removal.
The single vein carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood from the placenta to the fetus.
These vessels are encased in a protective substance called Wharton's jelly.
A helpful mnemonic to remember this is AVA (Artery, Vein, Artery).

Option A: This option incorrectly states there is one artery and five veins. A normal cord has two arteries and one vein.
Option C: This option incorrectly suggests five arteries and two veins. A normal cord has significantly fewer vessels.
Option D: This option incorrectly states there are two arteries and ten veins. While the artery count is correct, the vein count is wrong; there is only one vein.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the umbilical cord as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
At birth, the midwife or doctor examines the cut end of the umbilical cord to confirm the presence of all three vessels (AVA).
The absence of one umbilical artery, known as a single umbilical artery (SUA) or a two-vessel cord, is a common congenital anomaly, occurring in about 1% of singleton pregnancies.
While many babies with SUA are healthy, it can sometimes be associated with other congenital abnormalities, particularly of the kidneys, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, its discovery may prompt further diagnostic evaluation of the newborn.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing your knowledge of basic fetal anatomy.
Read the question carefully to identify the specific structure being asked about: the normal umbilical cord.
Recall the composition of the umbilical cord. A common mnemonic is 'AVA' which stands for Artery-Vein-Artery.
This mnemonic helps you remember that there are two arteries and one vein.
Evaluate the options based on this knowledge.
Select the option that matches the 'two arteries and one vein' configuration.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q822eg-NehWIdwtujqKvvT

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 71-95

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 778-780

Practise the full AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.