After delivery, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. Upon examination, how many blood vessels should be present in the umbilical cord?

1. A

   Two arteries one vein

2. B

   One artery two veins

3. C

   Two arteries two veins

4. D

   One artery one vein

Appeared in: MP CHO - 2022

Explanation

• A normal, healthy umbilical cord contains a total of three blood vessels.
• This configuration consists of two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein.
• The two arteries are responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood and metabolic waste products away from the fetus to the placenta for clearance.
• The single, larger umbilical vein carries oxygen-rich and nutrient-rich blood from the placenta to the fetus.
• A common mnemonic to remember this is "AVA" for Artery-Vein-Artery.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: This option reverses the correct numbers. A normal cord has two arteries and only one vein.
• Option C: A normal umbilical cord contains only three vessels in total, not four.
• Option D: This describes a two-vessel cord, also known as a Single Umbilical Artery (SUA). While this condition occurs in about 0.5-1% of pregnancies, it is considered an abnormality, not the normal finding.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Safe nursing care depends on performing Anatomy and assessment of the umbilical cord in the correct sequence, documenting the action clearly, and monitoring for the expected response.
• Counting the umbilical vessels is a fundamental and critical component of the initial newborn assessment performed by the nurse in the delivery room.
• The identification of a Single Umbilical Artery (SUA), or a two-vessel cord, serves as an important soft marker that prompts a more thorough examination of the newborn for potential hidden congenital anomalies, especially those affecting the renal and cardiovascular systems.
• Nurses must accurately document the number of vessels found (e.g., "3-vessel cord" or "2-vessel cord") and promptly communicate any abnormalities to the provider for appropriate follow-up, which may include ordering a renal ultrasound.

How to Approach the Question

• This is a factual recall question testing your knowledge of basic fetal and neonatal anatomy.
• First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the normal number and type of blood vessels in an umbilical cord.
• Recall the standard anatomy of the umbilical cord. A helpful mnemonic is "AVA," which stands for Artery-Vein-Artery.
• This mnemonic translates to two arteries and one vein.
• Scan the options to find the one that matches this configuration: "Two arteries one vein".
• Differentiate between the normal finding and common abnormalities. A two-vessel cord (one artery, one vein) is a known anomaly, but the question asks for the normal state.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Anatomy and assessment of the umbilical cord.
• Stem keywords: umbilical cord, blood vessels, after delivery
• Lead-in keywords: how many

Question ID

Q7TL-vmeohbAFOB6c4F2Qn

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 71-95

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 1 Part 2 p. 59-61