Ductus venosus
Ductus Venosus
The Ductus Venosus (pronounced: DUK-tus ve-NO-sus) is a small vessel in the fetal circulation that carries oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava.
Etymology
The term "Ductus Venosus" is derived from Latin, where "ductus" means "leading" and "venosus" refers to "vein". Thus, the term literally translates to "leading vein".
Function
The primary function of the Ductus Venosus is to bypass the liver in the fetal circulatory system. It allows oxygen-rich blood from the mother to flow directly to the heart of the fetus, providing the necessary nutrients for growth and development.
Related Terms
- Fetal circulation: The circulatory system of a human fetus, which is significantly different from the adult circulatory system due to the presence of the placenta.
- Umbilical vein: The vein that carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood from the placenta to the fetus.
- Inferior vena cava: The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body back to the heart.
- Liver: A large organ in the body that processes nutrients from food, makes bile, removes toxins from the body, and builds proteins.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ductus venosus
- Wikipedia's article - Ductus venosus
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