What happens to the umbilical arteries when the cord is clamped?

What happens to the umbilical arteries when the cord is clamped?

• A. Remains as the arteries
• B. Becomes the medial umbilical ligaments
• C. Becomes the lateral umbilical ligaments
• D. Disintegrates

Answer: (B)

After birth, the umbilical arteries no longer carry blood, so they undergo obliteration and fibrose into fibrous cords. These remnants are the medial umbilical ligaments, running along the inner surface of the anterior abdominal wall from the bladder to the umbilicus. The lateral umbilical folds contain the inferior epigastric vessels, not remnants of the arteries, so they aren’t the transformed arteries. The key idea is that fetal arteries become fibrous ligaments as part of normal postnatal remodeling.

After birth, the umbilical arteries no longer carry blood, so they undergo obliteration and fibrose into fibrous cords. These remnants are the medial umbilical ligaments, running along the inner surface of the anterior abdominal wall from the bladder to the umbilicus. The lateral umbilical folds contain the inferior epigastric vessels, not remnants of the arteries, so they aren’t the transformed arteries. The key idea is that fetal arteries become fibrous ligaments as part of normal postnatal remodeling.