Right-to-left shunt
Right-to-left shunt
Right-to-left shunt (pronunciation: rait-tuh-left shuhnt) is a medical term referring to a condition where the blood flow moves from the right side of the heart to the left side, bypassing the lungs. This can lead to a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood, a condition known as hypoxemia.
Etymology
The term "shunt" originates from the Old English word "scunten", meaning to "move sideways". In medical terminology, it refers to the diversion of blood flow from its normal path. The term "right-to-left" is self-explanatory, indicating the direction of the blood flow from the right side of the heart to the left.
Related Terms
- Heart: The organ in which the right-to-left shunt occurs.
- Hypoxemia: A condition that can result from a right-to-left shunt, characterized by abnormally low levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Pulmonary circulation: The part of the cardiovascular system which carries oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart. In a right-to-left shunt, this process is bypassed.
- Cyanosis: A bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood, which can be a symptom of a right-to-left shunt.
- Eisenmenger syndrome: A condition often associated with right-to-left shunt, where long-term high blood pressure in the lungs results in the reversal of blood flow direction.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Right-to-left shunt
- Wikipedia's article - Right-to-left shunt
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