Help with Fetal Circulation - Anatomy

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Question

Which structure is responsible for bypassing the fetal liver and taking blood directly to the right atrium?

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Answer

Because the fetal lungs and liver are not fully functional until birth, the fetal circulation uses structures in order to bypass these organs.

The ductus venosus is used to reroute blood from the fetal liver and deposit it into the right atrium.

The ductus arteriosus connects the fetal pulmonary arteries to the aorta to bypass the lungs, while the foramen ovale connects the right and left atria to reduce flow to the pulmonary arteries.

The umbilical vein carries blood from the uterus, where it have been loaded with oxygen from maternal circulation, back to the body.

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