Fetal circulation concept map
1.) Maternal blood begins to collects
in the intervillous spaces of the
uterine endometrium surrounding
the chorionic villi
6.) From the left atrium, blood moves
down into the lower chamber of the
heart (the left ventricle). It's then
pumped into the first part of the large
artery coming from the heart (the
ascending aorta).
7.) From the aorta, the oxygen-rich
blood is sent to the brain and to the
heart muscle itself. Blood is also sent
to the lower body.
11.) From there, blood flows back
into the placenta. There the carbon
dioxide and waste products are
released into the mother's circulatory
system. Oxygen and nutrients from
the mother's blood are transferred
across the placenta. Then the cycle
starts again.
2.) oxygen and other nutrients
osmose from the maternal blood 3.) Blood enters the fetus through the
through the cell layers of the umbilical vein
chorionic villi into the villi capillaries.
From there, nutrients are transported
to the developing embryo
4.) Blood flows from the umbilical
5.) Because there is no need for blood
vein to the ductus venous which
to pass through the lungs thereby
discharges oxygenated blood into the
bypassing the pulmonary artery, the
fetal liver and then connects to fetal
bulk of the blood is shunted as it
inferior vena cava so oxygenated
enters the right atrium into the left
blood is directed to the right atrium
atrium through an opening called
foramen ovale
8.) Blood returning to the heart from
the fetal body contains carbon
dioxide and waste products as it
enters the right atrium.
9.) A small amount of blood that
10.) As blood flows down into the returns to the heart via the vena cava
right ventricle, where it normally does leave the atrium by the adult
would be sent to the lungs to be circulatory route that is, through the
oxygenated. Instead, it bypasses the tricuspid valve into the right
lungs and flows through the ductus ventricle and then into the
arteriosus into the descending aorta, pulmonary artery and lungs to
which connects to the umbilical service lung tissue
arteries.