umbilicalis

Umbilicalis is a Latin adjective meaning pertaining to the umbilicus, or navel. In anatomical nomenclature it is used to describe structures associated with the umbilical region or with the umbilical cord. Examples include arteria umbilicalis (umbilical artery) and vena umbilicalis (umbilical vein), names that reflect their historical relation to fetal circulation.

In human development, the umbilical arteries and vein connect the fetus to the placenta. The two umbilical arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta, while the single umbilical vein returns oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus. After birth, these vessels undergo remodeling: the arteries become the medial umbilical ligaments, and the umbilical vein becomes the ligamentum teres hepatis in the liver. Other fetal vessels associated with the umbilical region may leave remnants that contribute to postnatal anatomy, such as the ductus venosus forming the ligamentum venosum.

The term umbilicalis also appears in regional anatomy to denote the area around the navel, known as regio umbilicalis, and in various compound names describing structures related to the umbilicus.

Etymology-wise, umbilicalis derives from umbilicus (navel) with the Latin adjectival ending -alis, illustrating its role in linking anatomical terms to the abdominal region and the embryonic connection between fetus and placenta.