A tiny, delicate fetal heart. How can such a small heart pump enough blood to support life? Interestingly enough, the fetal heart does not have to pump blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. It does not need a separate pulmonary artery and aorta. In the fetal heart, these two blood vessels are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus #arteriosus. After birth, the ductus closes and a separate left pulmonary artery and aorta form. The fetal heart also has an opening between the upper chambers (the right and left atria) called the foramen ovale. It lets blood flow directly from the right #atrium to the left atrium during fetal development, but closes after birth. - Mention your friends to see this shot Follow us @medshots to explore more! - Credits: unknown
