Experimental studies on the tensile properties of human umbilical cords

Nuchal translucency scans complicated by nuchal cord – Are we measuring correctly?

“…Extrapolating on this analogy, the NC compression in NT scans could be likened to a clinician's finger indenting the skin of a swollen lower leg, in testing for ‘pitting oedema’. If the elastic property of the umbilical cord is incorporated into the analogy, the indentation a sock makes on the lower leg is perhaps more applicable to NC, particularly as almost everyone who wears socks will develop mild, annular, pitting oedema by the end of the day . These analogies as to the nature of NC compression are limited by recognising that both the compressed object (NT) and the compressor (umbilical cord) are free floating, submerged in amniotic fluid and independently mobile.…”

“…If the elastic property of the umbilical cord is incorporated into the analogy, the indentation a sock makes on the lower leg is perhaps more applicable to NC, particularly as almost everyone who wears socks will develop mild, annular, pitting oedema by the end of the day. 30 These analogies as to the nature of NC compression are limited by recognising that both the compressed object (NT) and the compressor (umbilical cord) are free floating, submerged in amniotic fluid and independently mobile. Given the current lack of data on the biomechanical properties of NT, particularly when the NT is normal in thickness, we feel that the term 'redistribution of fluid' in relation to NCNT cases must not be interpreted in terms of a simple Archimedean fluid displacement equation, in which the volume of the 'submerged' object (umbilical cord) can be equated with volume of displaced fluid (NT thickness).…”

Supporting the hyper prolific sow and her litter through the perinatal period by dietary nitrate supplementation

“…The umbilical cord contains one vein that carries oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the fetus and two smaller arteries that transport deoxygenated blood from the fetus back to the placenta (Smith and Schenk, 2011). These vessels are surrounded by a so called Wharton's jelly, a gelatinous connective tissue, consisting mainly of hyaluronic acid, in which collagenous and reticular fibres form a loose meshwork (Tantius et al, 2014). An intact and functional umbilical cord is of crucial importance for fetal oxygen and nutrient supply.…”