Fetal and Neonatal Circulation Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key structural, functional, transitional, anatomical derivative, and clinical concepts of fetal and neonatal circulation based on lecture notes.

Fetal Circulation Pattern

The prenatal cardiovascular system where the placenta provides oxygen, nutrients, and detoxification, while the non-functional lungs and liver are largely bypassed via specialized shunts.

Neonatal Circulation Pattern

The postnatal cardiovascular arrangement established when the placenta is severed and the lungs expand, resulting in functional and anatomical closure of fetal shunts and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance.

Ductus Venosus

A fetal vascular shunt that allows approximately $501\%$ of oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein to bypass the liver sinusoids and empty directly into the inferior vena cava.

Ductus Venosus Sphincter

A muscular sphincter located within the ductus venosus whose contraction reduces blood flow through the ductus venosus and increases flow through the liver sinusoids.

Foramen Ovale

An interatrial shunt in the fetal heart that directs the majority of oxygenated blood arriving from the inferior vena cava straight into the left atrium.

Interatrial Pressure Gradient Before Birth

The prenatal cardiac state characterized by higher blood pressure in the right atrium relative to the left atrium, keeping the valve of the foramen ovale open.

Oval Fossa (Fossa Ovalis)

The adult atrial wall depression formed when left atrial pressure exceeds right atrial pressure postnatally, pressing the septum primum against the septum secundum to close the foramen ovale.

Ductus Arteriosus

A fetal blood vessel connecting the pulmonary trunk to the descending aorta, diverting about $90\%$ of right ventricular blood away from the lungs to protect them from overload.

Ligamentum Teres (Round Ligament of Liver)

The postnatal fibrous remnant formed by the intraabdominal portion of the obliterated fetal umbilical vein.

Ligamentum Venosum

The fibrous adult structural derivative resulting from the anatomical closure of the fetal ductus venosus.

Medial Umbilical Ligaments

Fibrous cords on the inner anterior abdominal wall formed from the obliterated distal portions of the fetal umbilical arteries.

Superior Vesical Arteries

Adult blood vessels supplying the bladder that persist from the functional proximal portions of the fetal umbilical arteries.

Ligamentum Arteriosum

The fibrous remnant connecting the pulmonary trunk to the aortic arch, formed by full anatomical closure of the ductus arteriosus around the $12\text{th}$ postnatal week.

Prostaglandin E2 and Bradykinin

Endogenous chemical mediators involved in controlling the constriction and functional closure of the ductus arteriosus after birth.

Fetal Cardiac Output

The total volume of blood pumped by the fetal heart per unit of time, which equals $350\,mls/kg/min$.

Fetal Heart Rate

The physiological rate of heart contractions in a developing fetus, normally ranging between $120\,bpm$ and $140\,bpm$.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

A clinical condition in which the ductus arteriosus fails to undergo normal postnatal closure, maintaining an open channel between the aortic arch and pulmonary trunk.

Coarctation of the Aorta

A congenital cardiovascular anomaly characterized by an abnormal narrowing of a segment of the aortic arch, categorized as pre-ductal or post-ductal.

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)

An atrial septal defect caused by the failure of the septum primum and septum secundum to fuse, leaving a persistent opening in the interatrial septum.