Fetal CirculationThis is a featured page

Fetal Circulation

The fetus
  • Has blood that is oxygenated in the placenta rather than in the lungs.
  • Has three shunts that partially bypass the lungs and liver.
Foramen ovale
  • Is an opening in the septum secundum.
  • Usually closes functionally at birth, but with anatomic closure occurring later.
  • Shunts blood from the right atrium to the left atrium, partially bypassing the lungs (pulmonary circulation).
Ductus arteriosus
  • Is derived from the sixth aortic arch and connects the bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk.
  • Closes functionally soon after birth, with anatomic closure requiring several weeks.
  • Becomes the ligamentum arteriosum, which connects the left pulmonary artery (at its origin from the pulmonary trunk) to the concavity of the arch of the aorta.
  • Shunts blood from the pulmonary trunk to the aorta, partially bypassing the lungs (pulmonary circulation
Ductus venosus
  • Shunts oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein (returning from the placenta) to the IVC, partially bypassing the liver (portal circulation).
  • Joins the left branch of the portal vein to the IVC and is obliterated to become the ligamentum venosum after birth.
Umbilical arteries
  • Carry blood to the placenta for reoxygenation before birth.
  • Become medial umbilical ligaments after birth, after their distal parts have atrophied.
Umbilical veins
  • Carry highly oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus.
  • Consists of the right vein, which is obliterated during the embryonic period, and the left vein, which is obliterated to form the ligamentum teres hepatis after birth.

Fetal Circulation



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AndyC
AndyC 		Latest page update: made by AndyC , Sep 22 2010, 2:11 AM EDT (about this update About This Update AndyC Edited by AndyC

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