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navel
Introduction References & Edit History
Quick Facts
Also called:
umbilicus
Plural:
umbilici, or umbilicuses
Related Topics:
umbilical cord
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navel

anatomy
Also known as: belly button, umbilicus
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Last updated
•History

navel, in anatomy, a small depression in the abdominal wall at the point of attachment of the umbilical cord (q.v.). It indicates the point through which the mammalian fetus obtained nourishment from its mother through the blood vessels of the umbilical cord.