Cord Function

The umbilical cord extends from the fetal umbilicus to the fetal
surface of the placenta, that is, the chorionic plate. Blood flows
from the umbilical vein and takes a path of least resistance via
two routes within the fetus. One is the ductus venosus, which
empties directly into the inferior vena cava (Fig. 7–8, p. 136).
The other route consists of numerous smaller openings into the
hepatic circulation. Blood from the liver flows into the inferior
vena cava via the hepatic vein. Resistance in the ductus venosus
is controlled by a sphincter that is situated at the origin of the
ductus at the umbilical recess and is innervated by a vagus nerve
branch.
Blood exits the fetus via the two umbilical arteries. These are
anterior branches of the internal iliac artery and become obliterated
after birth. Remnants