fetal circulation

Question 1

what is a placenta a site for

Answer 1

1) removal of waste and carbon dioxide from fetal blood

2) the oxygenation of the blood and the addition of nutrients and antibodies to the fetal blood

Question 2

umbilical vein

Answer 2

one umbilical vein carries blood from the placenta to the fetus via the umbilical cord

this blood is about 80% saturated with oxygen (the highest found in the fetus)

blood from the umbulical vein travels toward the liver but the majority bypasses the liver by passing through the ductus venous. The ductus venous leads directly to the inferior vena cava

Question 3

how does mixed blood exit the liver

Answer 3

via the hepatic veins to enter the inferior vena cava, mixing with the blood from the ductus venosus

Question 4

portal venous system

Answer 4

a small amount of blood does enter the liver, and mixes with blood from the portal venous system, entering the liver from the fetal gut

Question 5

inferior vena cava

Answer 5

contains blood which is less oxygenated that that in the umbilical vein due to mixing of the blood from the umbilical vein with the blood from the abdomen and lower extermeities

Question 6

blood from the inferior vena cava drains

Answer 6

into the right atrium