First Aid for Corrections Officers Practice Test 2026 – The All-in-One Resource to Master Your Exam Success!

The umbilical cord serves a vital role in fetal development by delivering oxygen and essential nutrients from the placenta to the developing baby. This connection is crucial, as it facilitates the transfer of substances necessary for growth and development while also allowing waste products from the baby to be carried back to the placenta for removal. This oxygenation and nutrient delivery is essential for sustaining the life of the fetus while it is still in the womb, ensuring that it can grow and develop properly until birth.

In contrast, the other functions provided in the options do not accurately describe the umbilical cord's primary roles. While filtration and waste removal occur at the placenta, the umbilical cord itself does not filter blood. Additionally, it does not serve to connect limbs to the body's central structure or provide physical protection against external impacts; these functions are managed through other anatomical structures and mechanisms.