Umbilical artery

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Description:

The umbilical artery is a branch of the superior vesical artery from the internal iliac supply. It ascends along the internal surface of the rectus abdominis to the posterior surface of the umbilicus. In fetal life the paired umbilical arteries returned deoxygenated blood to the maternal circulation. After birth and the severing of the umbilical cord, the arteries constrict and fill with collagen to become the obliterated umbilical arteries, or lateral umbilical ligaments.