Biological termModerate1 mark
1(a)
Name the following:
The structure which connects the placenta and the foetus.
Topic: Umbilical cord
Previous-year question practice database
Answer
Exam answer
UMBILICAL CORD.
Explanation
The umbilical cord runs between the foetus and the placenta and contains THREE blood vessels: TWO umbilical ARTERIES, carrying deoxygenated blood and wastes FROM the foetus TO the placenta ONE umbilical VEIN, carrying oxygenated blood and nutrients FROM the placenta TO the foetus
NOTE THE EXCEPTION, a favourite examination point: here the ARTERY carries DEOXYGENATED blood and the VEIN carries OXYGENATED blood — the reverse of the usual rule. What always holds is not about oxygen but direction: an artery carries blood AWAY from the heart, a vein TOWARDS it.
The pulmonary vessels are the other exception, and the two are often asked together.
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