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    Fetal Circulation: DR - Santosh Reddy

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    devireddy santoshreddy
    Fetal circulation involves the flow of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the fetus. The placenta functions as the fetus's lungs, exchanging gases and nutrients between the mother and fetus. In the fetus, blood is shunted away from the non-functional lungs through ducts. At birth, closure of the ducts and expansion of the lungs allows the newborn to breathe independently and complete the transition to neonatal circulation.

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    Fetal Circulation: DR - Santosh Reddy

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    devireddy santoshreddy
    127 views16 pages
    Fetal circulation involves the flow of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the fetus. The placenta functions as the fetus's lungs, exchanging gases and nutrients between the mother and fetus. In the fetus, blood is shunted away from the non-functional lungs through ducts. At birth, closure of the ducts and expansion of the lungs allows the newborn to breathe independently and complete the transition to neonatal circulation.

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    Fetal Circulation

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    Fetal circulation involves the flow of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the fetus. The placenta functions as the fetus's lungs, exchanging gases and nutrients between the mother and fetus. In the fetus, blood is shunted away from the non-functional lungs through ducts. At birth, closure of the ducts and expansion of the lungs allows the newborn to breathe independently and complete the transition to neonatal circulation.

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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    127 views16 pages

    Fetal Circulation: DR - Santosh Reddy

    Uploaded by

    devireddy santoshreddy
    Fetal circulation involves the flow of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the fetus. The placenta functions as the fetus's lungs, exchanging gases and nutrients between the mother and fetus. In the fetus, blood is shunted away from the non-functional lungs through ducts. At birth, closure of the ducts and expansion of the lungs allows the newborn to breathe independently and complete the transition to neonatal circulation.

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    FETAL CIRCULATION

    Dr.Santosh
    Reddy
    DEFINITION

    The circulation of oxygenated blood, de-oxygenated


    blood, nutritive material etc. in the fetus is termed as
    fetal circulation.
    Placental Role in Fetal Circulation:

    • The circulatory system of the mother is not directly connected to that of the
    fetus, so the placenta functions as the respiratory center for the fetus as well
    as a site of filtration for plasma nutrients and wastes.

    Fetal Lungs:

    • Pulmonary vascular resistance is the resistance offered to blood through lungs. The
    resistance is very high in fetus because of the non-functioning of fetal lungs. Because
    of this high pressure, the blood is diverted from pulmonary artery into aorta.
    The blood vessels responsible for fetal circulation are:

    1 Umbilical Vein : It carries the oxygenated blood from the placenta to the
    growing fetus.
    2 Umbilical Arteries : Supplies de-oxygenated blood from the fetus to the
    placenta.
    SHUNTS INVOLVED IN FETAL CIRCULATION:

    1. Ductus Venosus.
    2. Ductus Arteriosus.
    3. Foramen Ovale.
    DUCTUS VENOSUS
    The Ductus Venosus shunts the portion of left umbilical
    vein blood flow directly to the inferior vena cava.
    Allows oxygenated blood from the placenta to bypass the
    liver.
    DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS
    Also called Ductus Botalli.
    Connects the pulmonary artery to the proximal descending
    aorta.
    It allows most of the blood from the right-ventricle to
    bypass the fetus fluid-filled non-functioning lungs.
    FORAMEN OVALE
    It is an opening in the intra-atrial septum.
    It allows the blood to enter the left atrium from the right
    atrium
    It is also called False Septi.
    FETAL RESPIRATION AND
    CIRCULATION
    • Before birth, the fetal lungs do not participate in gas exchange. All of the
    oxygen used by the fetus is supplied from the mother by diffusion across
    the placenta. CO2 produced during fetal metabolism is transported
    across the placenta and removed by the mother’s lungs.
    • The fetal lungs are expanded in utero, but the potential air sacs (alveoli)
    are filled with fluid instead of air. The pulmonary vessels that will carry
    blood to the alveoli after birth are tightly constricted and very little
    blood flows into them.
    TRANSITIONAL CIRCULATION

    A series of physiologic changes occur after birth that culminates in a


    successful transition from fetal to neonatal circulation.
    Three important physiologic changes that occur during this transition.
    When the baby breathes and the umbilical cord is clamped, the
    newborn uses the lungs for gas exchange. Fluid is absorbed quickly
    from the alveoli and the lungs fill with air. The previously constricted
    pulmonary blood vessels begin to dilate so that blood can reach the
    alveoli where oxygen will be absorbed and CO2 will be removed
    • Although the initial steps in a normal transition occur within a
    few minutes of birth, the entire process may not be completed
    for hours or even several days.
    • For example, studies have shown it may take up to 10 minutes
    for a normal term newborn to achieve oxygen saturation
    greater than 90%. It may take several hours for alveolar fluid to
    be completely absorbed. Functional closure of the ductus
    arteriosus may not occur for 24 to 48 hours after birth, and
    complete relaxation of the pulmonary blood vessels does not
    occur for several months.
    HOW DOES A NEWBORN RESPOND TO AN INTERRUPTION IN
    NORMAL TRANSITION?

    • If there is an interruption in either placental function or neonatal


    respiration, gas exchange within tissues is decreased and the arterioles in
    the intestines, kidneys, muscles, and skin may constrict. A survival
    reflex maintains or increases blood flow to the heart and brain. This
    redistribution of blood flow helps to preserve function of these vital
    organs. If inadequate gas exchange continues, the heart begins to fail
    and blood flow to all organs decreases. The lack of adequate blood
    perfusion and tissue oxygenation interferes with cellular function and
    may lead to organ damage.

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