FETAL CIRCULATION

Inside the fetal heart: y y y y Blood enters the right atrium, the chamber on the upper right side of the heart. Most of the blood flows to the left side through a special fetal opening between the left and right atria, called the foramen ovale. Blood then passes into the left ventricle (lower chamber of the heart) and then to the aorta, (the large artery coming from the heart). From the aorta, blood is sent to the heart muscle itself in addition to the brain and arms. After circulating there, the blood returns to the right atrium of the heart through the superior vena cava. About one-third of the blood entering the right atrium does not flow through the foramen ovale, but, instead, stays in the right side of the heart. This blood enters the right ventricle from the right atrium, then exits the right ventricle to end up in, eventually flowing into the pulmonary artery. From there, some of the blood will travel to the lungs. The majority of the blood in the pulmonary artery, however, enters the descending aorta through a special artery called the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). It then travels through smaller vessels to reach back into the placenta. Because the placenta does the work of exchanging oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through the mother's circulation, the fetal lungs are not used for breathing. Instead of blood flowing to the lungs to pick up oxygen and then flowing to the rest of the body, the fetal circulation shunts (bypasses) most of the blood away from the lungs. In the fetus, blood is shunted from the pulmonary artery to the aorta through the patent ductus arteriosus. FETAL CIRCULATION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Oxygenated blood enters the umbilical vein from the placenta Enters ductus venosus Passes through inferior venacava Enters the right atrium Enters the foramen ovale Goes to the left atrium Passes through left ventricle Flows to ascending aorta to supply nourishment to the brain and upper extremeties Enters superior vena cava Goes to right atrium Enters the right ventricle Enters pulmonary artery with some blood going to the lungs to supply oxygen and nourishment Flows to ductus arteriosus Enters descending aorta ( some blood going to the lower extremeties) Enters hypogastric arteries Goes back to the placenta

Special Structures in Fetal Circulation Placenta Where gas exchange takes place during fetal life Umbilical Arteries Carry unoxygenated blood from the fetus to placenta Umbilical Vein Brings oxygenated blood coming from the placenta to the fetus Foramen Ovale Connects the left and right atrium. It pushes blood from the right atrium to the left atrium so that blood can be supplied to brain, heart and kidney Ductus Venosus - Carry oxygenated blood from umbilical vein to inferior venacava, bypassing fetal liver Ductus Arteriosus - Carry oxygenated blood from pulmonary artery to aorta, bypassing fetal lungs.