The purpose of the foramen ovale and the ductus arteriosus is to permit most blood to:
A)bypass the fetal liver
B)flow through the fetal lungs
C)flow through the fetal liver
D)bypass the fetal lungs

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The foramen ovale and the ductus arteriosus are structures present only in fetal circulation, with the purpose of allowing most of the blood to bypass the lungs, which are not yet functional in the fetus. The foramen ovale is a hole in the interatrial septum that shunts oxygenated blood from the right atrium to the left atrium, while the ductus arteriosus is a vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, allowing most of the blood to bypass the pulmonary circulation. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

The Purpose of the Foramen Ovale and the Ductus Arteriosus