Medicaltalks over 7 years ago

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The fetal heart has a unique role in fetal circulation and is one of the first functional organs in embryos. It beats spontaneously by week 4 of development, between 105-120 beats per minute. Typically, holes are present, such as the foremen ovale (an opening between right and left atriums) and ductus arteriosus (connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta). Most of the blood flows through the foramen ovale directly from the right into the left atrium, thus bypassing pulmonary circulation.The blood is eventually being pumped into the left ventricle and aorta.The small portion of blood that ends up in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery is bypassing the lungs by the ductus arteriosus.