Navelstreng

Navelstreng is the Danish and Norwegian term for the umbilical cord, the flexible structure that links a developing fetus to the placenta. It contains three blood vessels (two arteries and one vein) embedded in Wharton’s jelly and is typically about 50 to 60 centimeters long at term. The cord forms early in pregnancy and connects the fetal abdomen to the placental disk, through which fetal blood circulates to and from the placenta.

The primary function of the navelstreng is to transport blood between fetus and placenta. Oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood travel from the placenta to the fetus via the umbilical vein, while deoxygenated blood and waste products return to the placenta through the two umbilical arteries. The placenta provides gas exchange and nutrient transfer, with the cord’s vessels protected by Wharton’s jelly.

At birth the navelstreng is clamped and cut, and the stump that remains dries and usually falls off within one to three weeks. Proper newborn care focuses on keeping the stump clean and dry to prevent infection, with signs such as redness, discharge, or fever warranting medical attention.

Clinical considerations include anatomical variations and complications of the cord, such as single umbilical artery, velamentous or marginal insertion, true knots, or a nuchal cord wrapped around the fetus’s neck. Cord blood can be collected for laboratory testing or stem cell banking, and cord-derived samples are used in neonatal screening and research.

Etymology: navelstreng reflects Danish and Norwegian usage for the anatomical structure commonly called the umbilical cord in English.