1. Normal Fetal Heart Flow

where does the right ventricle normally pump blood after birth?

to the lungs to pick up oxygen

what does the pulmonary artery carry?

blood from the right ventricle toward the lungs

what do the pulmonary veins carry?

oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium

where does the left ventricle normally pump blood?

to the body through the aorta

what does the umbilical vein carry?

oxygen-rich blood from the placenta towards the fetus

what do the umbilical arteries carry?

oxygen-poor blood from the fetus back to the placenta

why does most fetal blood bypass the lungs?

the placenta supplies oxygen, so the fetal lungs do not need to oxygenate blood

what is a fetal shunt?

a temporary opening or blood vessel that provides a shortcut for blood flow before birth

• bypasses sending blood to the lungs

what are the three fetal shunts?

1. foramen ovale

2. ductus arteriosus

3. ductus venosus

what does resistance mean in blood circulation?

how difficult it is for blood to move through blood vessels

what is a pressure gradient?

a difference in blood pressure between two connected areas

how does a pressure gradient affect blood flow? *

blood moves from an area of higher pressure toward an area of lower pressure

what is pulmonary resistance like before birth?

high, meaning blood has difficulty flowing through the fetal lungs

• the fetal lungs are not expanded with air, and their blood vessels are narrowed

how does high pulmonary resistance affect fetal blood flow? *

most blood takes shortcuts around the lungs instead of flowing through them

what is the foramen ovale?

an opening between the right and left atria that lets fetal blood bypass the lungs

which direction does fetal blood flow through the foramen ovale? *

from the right atrium to the left atrium

what pressure gradient moves fetal blood through the foramen ovale? *

pressure is higher in the right atrium than in the left atrium, pushing blood right to left

what is the ductus arteriosus?

a fetal blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the aorta so blood can bypass the lungs

which direction does fetal blood flow through the ductus arteriosus? *

from the pulmonary artery into the aorta

what pressure gradient moves fetal blood through the ductus arteriosus? *

pressure is higher in the pulmonary artery than in the aorta, directing blood toward the aorta

what is the ductus venosus?

a fetal blood vessel connecting the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, which carries blood toward the heart

what does the ductus venosus allow fetal blood to bypass?

most of the liver, allowing oxygen-rich blood from the placenta to reach the heart more directly