* Oxygen: The mother's blood carries oxygen to the embryo through the umbilical cord.
* Nutrients: The mother's blood also carries nutrients like glucose, amino acids, and vitamins to the embryo.
* Waste removal: The umbilical cord carries waste products like carbon dioxide and urea from the embryo back to the mother's system for elimination.
The umbilical cord is attached to the placenta, which is a disc-shaped organ that develops in the mother's uterus. The placenta acts as a filter and exchange point between the mother's and the embryo's blood.
It's important to note that the mother's and embryo's blood do not mix directly. Instead, the placenta allows for the transfer of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products through a process called diffusion.
