Four-vessel umbilical cord associated with multiple congenital anomalies.
A case is described in which it was found at autopsy that the umbilical cord of a macerated stillborn infant had four patent vessels (two arteries and two veins) throughout its length. This was due to a rare persistence of the caudal portion of the right umbilical vein. The infant had multiple congenital anomalies including complete thoracic ectopia cordis, a symmetrical bifid liver, severe bilateral cleft lip and palate with absent soft palate and uvula , and cecum mobile. The autopsy findings are detailed and the relevant literature and embryology briefly discussed.
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*