The plural form of umbilical cord is umbilical cords.
Based on linguistic conventions and standard definitions, including the provided reference, the pluralization follows a regular pattern.
Understanding the Plural
The word "umbilical cord" is a compound noun. The primary noun is "cord," which pluralizes regularly by adding "-s" to become "cords." When a compound noun's main part is a noun that takes a standard plural form, the plural is often formed by making that main noun plural.
- Singular: umbilical cord
- Plural: umbilical cords
This is confirmed by the reference:
- Reference: umbilical cord /ˌʌmˈbɪlɪkəl-/ noun. plural umbilical cords.
When to Use the Plural
You would use "umbilical cords" when referring to more than one umbilical cord. This might occur in various contexts, such as:
- Discussing the anatomy in multiple births (e.g., twins, triplets).
- Referring to samples collected from several different births for research.
- Mentioning the disposal or processing of these structures from multiple individuals.
Examples
Here are a few examples demonstrating the use of the plural form:
- In the case of twins, there are often two umbilical cords, one for each baby.
- Scientists collected samples of umbilical cords from fifty different births for their study.
- Proper handling procedures are necessary for the disposal of umbilical cords after delivery.
Singular vs. Plural
Let's summarize the forms:
| Form | Word | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | Umbilical Cord | The baby was connected by an umbilical cord. |
| Plural | Umbilical Cords | The hospital collected several umbilical cords for analysis. |
This straightforward pluralization makes the term easy to use in both medical and general contexts when discussing multiple instances of this vital structure.
