3. Physiology
        3.2. Cardiovascular
            3.2.5. Special circulations
3.2.5.6. Foetal circulation

Foetal circulation

[Ref: BL8:p264-268; WG21:p631-632]

From umbilical vein to liver

About half of oxygenated umbilical venous blood goes through liver

The other half bypass liver
* Goes into IVC via ductus venosus
* Joins the venous blood from lower limbs
* Then hepatic vein blood join IVC

From liver to ventricles

The streams of blood stay mostly separate in IVC

Blood with mostly umbilical venous blood
--> Passes through the right atrium
(then shunted through foramen ovale)
--> Enters left atrium, then left ventricle

Rest of the IVC blood joins the SVC blood
--> Passes through the right atrium
--> Enters the right ventricle

From the ventricles to aorta

Because of the large pulmonary resistance

LV output goes into ascending aorta

 

Oxygen supply

[BL8:p266]

Umbilical vein

Superior vena cava

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Right ventricle

Ductus arteriosus

Ascending aorta

Descending aorta

Umbilical arteries

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