the umbilical cord connects to the amniotic cavity inside the baby.
the umbilical cord connects to the amniotic cavity inside the baby.
where does the umbilical cord connect to inside the baby?
the amniotic cavity
the umbilical cord enters the fetus via the abdomen, at the point which (after separation) will become the umbilicus (or navel). within the fetus, the umbilical vein continues towards the transverse fissure of the liver, where it splits into two. one of these branches joins with the hepatic portal vein (connecting to its left branch), which carries blood into the liver. the second branch (known as the ductus venosus) bypasses the liver and flows into the inferior vena cava, which carries blood towards the heart. the two umbilical arteries branch from the internal iliac arteries and pass on either side of the urinary bladder into the umbilical cord, completing the circuit back to the placenta.
umbilical cord
japanese hospitals typically place part of the umbilical cord that falls off in a traditional box specifically designed for this purpose. when the mother leaves the hospital, the umbilical cord is given to her. this japanese custom is based upon the belief that the umbilical cord has a direct relationship to the health of the baby. maltreating it, therefore, risks causing harm or disease in the child. in some japanese households, a mother may show a child the umbilical cord on certain events like birthdays to recall the day the child was born. in other households, the umbilical cord is given to a child on the day he or she leaves home or gets married to symbolize separation. also, a preserved umbilical cord is considered to be a cure for the child when he or she is sick. parents would cut a small portion of the cord and feed it to the child. additionally, the japanese believe that the umbilical cord is a symbol of the child's fate. so if one loses his or her umbilical cord, his/her spiritual fate is considered lost as well.
childbirth in japan