| umbilical cord n. 1. a. Anatomy The flexible cordlike structure connecting a fetus at the abdomen with the placenta and containing two umbilical arteries and one vein that transport nourishment to the fetus and remove its wastes. b. Something likened to this structure; a source or means of support or sustenance: "All the umbilical cords of dependency still exist because the public wants them" (David A. Stockman). 2. Aerospace a. Any of various external electrical lines or fluid tubes that supply a rocket before launch. b. The line that supplies an astronaut with oxygen and in some cases with communications while outside the spacecraft. |
umbilical cord
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the long flexible tubelike structure connecting a fetus with the placenta: it provides a means of metabolic interchange with the mother
2. any flexible cord, tube, or cable used to transfer information, power, oxygen, etc., as between an astronaut walking in space and his spacecraft or a deep-sea diver and his craft
umbilical cord ( m-b l -k l) The flexible cord that attaches an embryo or fetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord contains blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and remove its wastes, including carbon dioxide. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  umbilical cord - membranous duct connecting the fetus with the placentaconceptus, fertilized egg, embryo - an animal organism in the early stages of growth and differentiation that in higher forms merge into fetal stages but in lower forms terminate in commencement of larval life fetus, foetus - an unborn or unhatched vertebrate in the later stages of development showing the main recognizable features of the mature animal duct, epithelial duct, canal, channel - a bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance; "the tear duct was obstructed"; "the alimentary canal"; "poison is released through a channel in the snake's fangs" funiculus - any of several body structure resembling a cord fetal membrane - any membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetus umbilical vein, vena umbilicalis - a vein in the umbilical cord; returns nutrient blood from the placenta to the fetus |
Translations
umbilical cord
n → Nabelschnur f
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