Question

How is fetal circulation different from adult circulation? Be sure to discuss where blood is oxygenated in each as well as any blood shunts present in the fetus.

Answer 1

Explanation:

• One of the main differences between adult and fetal circulation is the direction and where the non-oxygenated and oxygenated blood circulates. In adults arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart and veins carry non-oxygenated blood towards the heart; in fetuses, arteries carry non-oxygenated blood away from the heart and veins carry oxygenated blood back to the heart.

• Another difference is where does the exchange of gases takes place, in fetuses blood is oxygenated in the placenta, in adults in the lungs.

• The circulation between adults and fetuses differs in where does the pressure increases, in adults is on the left side of the heart, in fetuses on the right side.

• Finally, another important difference between adults and fetuses is the presence of shunts, in fetuses these shunts allow both sides of the heart to work parallelly letting mix blood from both ventricles. This shunt gets closed after birth, so adults do not have them.

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