Fetal circulation

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Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation (pronunciation: /ˈfiːtəl sɜːkjʊˈleɪʃən/) refers to the circulatory system of a fetus, which differs significantly from postnatal (after birth) circulation. The term originates from the Latin fetus, meaning offspring, and the Latin circulatio, meaning going around.

Overview

In fetal circulation, oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood are transferred across the placenta to the fetus. The oxygen-rich blood then travels through the umbilical vein towards the fetus's heart. However, only a small portion of this blood is directed to the fetal lungs. Instead, most of it bypasses the lungs through unique structures: the ductus venosus, the foramen ovale, and the ductus arteriosus.

Ductus Venosus

The ductus venosus (pronunciation: /ˈdʌktəs vɪˈnoʊsəs/) is a small vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, bypassing the liver. The term originates from the Latin ductus, meaning leading, and venosus, meaning venous.

Foramen Ovale

The foramen ovale (pronunciation: /fəˈreɪmən oʊˈvɑːleɪ/) is an opening in the septum between the two atria of the heart. It allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the lungs. The term originates from the Latin foramen, meaning opening, and ovale, meaning oval.

Ductus Arteriosus

The ductus arteriosus (pronunciation: /ˈdʌktəs ɑːrtɪəriˈoʊsəs/) is a vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta. It allows most of the blood from the right ventricle to bypass the lungs. The term originates from the Latin ductus, meaning leading, and arteriosus, meaning arterial.

Related Terms

External links

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