What does the umbilical cord connect?

The umbilical cord plays a crucial role during pregnancy as it serves as the lifeline between the fetus and the placenta. This structure is responsible for transporting essential nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the fetal circulatory system and the mother’s circulation through the placenta. Understanding this connection is vital for appreciating how the fetus develops and receives the necessary sustenance for growth. The other options, while they describe other important connections in anatomy and physiology, do not accurately represent the function of the umbilical cord in fetal development.