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umbilical cord  the structure that connects the fetus and placenta; it is the lifeline of the fetus in the uterus throughout pregnancy. About two weeks after conception, the umbilical cord and the placenta are sufficiently developed to begin their functions. Through two arteries and a vein in the cord, nourishment and oxygen pass from the blood vessels in the placenta to the fetus, and waste products pass from the fetus to the placenta. After birth, the umbilical cord is clamped or tied and then cut. The part that is attached to the placenta, still in the uterus, is expelled with the placenta. The stump that remains attached to the baby's abdomen is about 5 cm long and falls off naturally within a few days.




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