The umbilical vein drains into the ductus venosus, which is connected to an intricate network of veins within the developing ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The liver is the correct answer. The ductus venosus is a blood vessel that connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava. The blood from the umbilical vein, which carries nutrients and oxygen from the placenta, flows through the ductus venosus into the inferior vena cava, bypassing the liver. This is because the fetal liver does not play a significant role in filtering blood as it does in adults. Instead, the liver is the site of red blood cell production in the fetus. Once the blood flows into the inferior vena cava, it mixes with the blood returning from the lower body and flows into the right atrium of the heart.

The Umbilical Vein Drains into the Ductus Venosus, Which Is