Fetal Circulation Flashcards
Describe postnatal circulation
- separate pulmonary and systemic circulations
- no mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
- oxygenation of blood occurs in the lungs
- extensive hepatic blood supply
What limitations and special needs does a developing foetus have?
- Lungs are not functioning as in adults
- digestive system is not functioning as in adults
- Foetus has restricted hepatic circulation
What are the 3 shunts/by-passes in foetal circulation to avoid the lungs and liver
- By-pass of hepatic cirulation
- By pass of the pulmonary circulation vua the foramen ovale
- By-pass of the pulmonary circulation by ductus arteriosus
What travels across the placenta?
O2 and nutrients diffuse across the placental barrier from mother to foetus while CO2 and metabolic waste are removed via the placenta
What is the placenta?
Interface between the foetus and mother
Do maternal and foetal blood ever mix?
NO
Where is the placenta located?
at the fundus of the uterus
What surrounds the umbilical cord?
- Fetal membrane
- amnion
- contains Wharton’s Jelly
What is embedded in Wharton’s jelly?
two umbilical arteries and a single umbilica vein
What is another name given to the umbilical vein?
Ductus Venous
What travels in the umblicial vein?
Oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from the placenta
What 2 branches does the umbilical vein divide into? And where do the branches go?
- Smaller branch, which goes to the liver
- Larger branch, ductus venosus by-passes the liver and drains into the inferior vena cava
What occurs when the umbilical vein/ductus venosus merges with the IVC
arterial blood mixes with venous blood from the lower limbs
The amount of venous blood = insignficant
Where does most of the blood coming through the IVC passes through
Passes from the RA into the LA through foramen ovale then onto the LV and aorta
What is foramen ovale?
The shunt that connects the right atrium to the left atrium.
It means some oxygenated blood travels into the RA