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2026Q5(iii)(b)The Reproductive System
Short answerModerate1 mark
5(iii)

A 28-year-old pregnant lady goes to a gynecologist for a check-up. Her doctor explains that there is normal growth of the foetus and the placenta is functioning well.

What connects the placenta to the foetus?

Topic: Umbilical cord

Previous-year question practice database

Answer

Exam answer

The 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, because it is a favourite examination point: here the ARTERY carries DEOXYGENATED blood and the VEIN carries OXYGENATED blood — the reverse of the usual rule. The rule that always holds is not about oxygen but about direction: an ARTERY carries blood AWAY from the heart, a VEIN carries it TOWARDS the heart.

The pulmonary vessels are the other exception, and the two are often asked together.

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