Cord Blood Umbilical Cord 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the typical diameter of a full-term umbilical cord?
- 0.5–1 cm
- 1–2 cm (Correct answer)
- 2–3 cm
- 3–4 cm
Correct answer: 1–2 cm
A full-term umbilical cord typically measures 1–2 cm in diameter.
Question 2: Which structure in the umbilical cord prevents kinking and compression of blood vessels?
- Fibrin
- Wharton's jelly (Correct answer)
- Collagen fibers
- Amniotic epithelium
Correct answer: Wharton's jelly
Wharton's jelly is a gelatinous substance that cushions and protects the umbilical blood vessels.
Question 3: A two-vessel umbilical cord (single umbilical artery) is associated with an increased risk of which condition?
- Gestational diabetes
- Fetal chromosomal anomalies (Correct answer)
- Placenta previa
- Polyhydramnios
Correct answer: Fetal chromosomal anomalies
A single umbilical artery is a soft marker for fetal chromosomal and structural anomalies.
Question 4: What is a nuchal cord?
- A cord inserted at the placental edge
- The cord wrapped around the fetal neck (Correct answer)
- A cord with an abnormal number of vessels
- A cord shorter than 30 cm
Correct answer: The cord wrapped around the fetal neck
A nuchal cord refers to the umbilical cord wrapped one or more times around the fetal neck.
Question 5: During cord blood banking, clamping the cord too early may reduce collection volume because:
- The cord collapses before cutting
- Less blood remains in the cord and placenta (Correct answer)
- Wharton's jelly hardens immediately
- Arterial flow reverses direction
Correct answer: Less blood remains in the cord and placenta
Early clamping limits the amount of blood that stays in the placenta and cord, reducing the collectible stem-cell-rich volume.
Question 6: Which hormone produced by the placenta travels through the umbilical vein to support fetal growth?
- Cortisol
- Human placental lactogen (Correct answer)
- Adrenaline
- Luteinizing hormone
Correct answer: Human placental lactogen
Human placental lactogen (hPL) passes through the umbilical vein and supports fetal growth and metabolism.
Question 7: What is a velamentous cord insertion?
- The cord attaches directly to the center of the placenta
- The cord vessels run unprotected through the membranes before reaching the placenta (Correct answer)
- The cord is shorter than normal
- The cord has an extra artery
Correct answer: The cord vessels run unprotected through the membranes before reaching the placenta
In velamentous insertion, umbilical vessels travel unsupported through the amniotic membranes, increasing the risk of vessel rupture.
Cord Blood Umbilical Cord 2
What is the typical diameter of a full-term umbilical cord?