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Umbilical Cord

The umbilical cord is the ropey structure that connects the fetus to the placenta in the mother's uterus. Blood vessels in the cord bring nourishment to the fetus and take away waste products.

The umbilical cord is formed in the fifth week of pregnancy.

When the baby is born, the umbilical cord is about 2 ft (0.61 m) long.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Last Revised February 2, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: /2, 11 1
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