The following are the characteristics of fetal umbilical cord; EXCEPT:

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The umbilical cord does not contain any nerve fibers, either sensory or motor.
This lack of innervation means the fetus does not feel pain when the cord is clamped and cut after birth.
The absence of nerves is a key anatomical feature of the umbilical cord.
Therefore, the statement that the umbilical cord has sensory nerve endings is false.

Option B: This is a correct statement. The standard structure of the umbilical cord is two arteries and one vein (often remembered by the mnemonic AVA).
Option C: This is a correct statement. Wharton's jelly is a specialized gelatinous connective tissue that surrounds the umbilical vessels, providing structural support and protection against compression.
Option D: This is a correct statement. The primary function of the umbilical cord is to facilitate the transport of oxygenated blood and nutrients to the fetus and to carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy and physiology of the fetal umbilical cord as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The absence of nerves in the umbilical cord is clinically significant because it allows for painless clamping and cutting after delivery, a routine and necessary procedure.
An abnormality to note is a Single Umbilical Artery (SUA), which occurs in about 1% of pregnancies. While many babies with SUA are healthy, it can sometimes be associated with other congenital anomalies, particularly of the kidneys and heart.
What if? If the umbilical cord did have sensory nerves, its clamping and cutting would be a painful procedure for the newborn, requiring analgesia and a different approach to immediate postpartum care.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'EXCEPT' in the question stem. This indicates you must find the statement that is false.
Next, review the four options provided, which all describe characteristics of the fetal umbilical cord.
Recall the basic anatomy and physiology of the umbilical cord.
Evaluate each statement for its accuracy: Does the cord have two arteries and one vein? Is it protected by Wharton's jelly? Does it transport nutrients? Does it have nerves?
The statement that the cord has sensory nerve endings is factually incorrect. The other three statements are correct.
Select the incorrect statement as your answer because the question asks for the exception.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Anatomy and physiology of the fetal umbilical cord.
Stem keywords: fetal umbilical cord, characteristics
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the exception or the incorrect statement among the given options.

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 71-95

E6 Histology Inderbir 11e pp. 4-6, 5-7

Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

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