This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Umbilical arteries (changes after birth)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The umbilical arteries obliterate after birth. It occurs by two means:

  • functional obliteration:
    • occurs within a few minutes of birth
    • due to:
      • thrombosis in the lumen after ligating the umbilical cord
      • mechanical stimuli at birth
      • reduced oxygen tension through the vessel
  • anatomical obliteration:
    • takes several months
    • due to fibrosis of the lumen by intimal proliferation

The only remnants of the umbilical arteries are fibrous cords in the adult; these are the medial umbilical ligaments which extend in the extra-peritoneal fat of the abdominal wall from the umbilicus to the superior vesical arteries. The latter remain patent.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.