Foetal Circulation - Anatomy & Physiology
Foetal Circulation
A large number of physiological processes that are necessary for the embryo’s survival, such as detoxification, gas exchange and waste removal, are carried out by the placenta [[1]] rendering organs such as the liver and lungs surplus to requirement. There are a number of foetal circulatory shunts that ensure oxygen and nutrient rich blood flows directly to the most important organs, namely the brain, heart and adrenal glands.
Shunt 1: The Ductus Venosus
Oxygenated blood travels from the placenta via the umbilical vein and most of it bypasses the liver by way of the ductus venosus. The ductus venosus links the umbilical vein to the caudal vena cava and the flow of blood is controlled by a sphincter, enabling the proportion travelling to the heart versus the liver to be altered.
Shunt 2: The Foramen Ovale
The foramen ovale is an opening between the two atria enabling blood to be channelled directly into the systemic circulation thereby bypassing the lungs. The septum secundum directs the majority of the blood entering the right atrium through the foramen ovale into the left atrium. Here it mixes with a small volume of blood returning from the non-functional lungs via the pulmonary veins.
Shunt 3: The Ductus Arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta and allows equivalent ventricular function in the foetus. The blood from the right ventricle is pumped to the pulmonary trunk where, due to the high resistance in the collapsed foetal lungs, a larger volume passes through the ductus arteriosus to the caudal aorta. Most of the blood in the aorta is then returned to the placenta for oxygenation through the umbilical arteries. The ductus arteriosus empties blood into the aorta after the artery to the head has branched off thus ensuring that the brain receives well-oxygenated blood.