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Ductus venosus flow

Overview

The ductus venosus is a short vessel connecting the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava

  • The ductus venosus plays a critical role in preferentially shunting oxygenated blood to the fetal brain.
  • About 80% of oxygenated blood from the placenta bypasses the liver and is directed to the heart. It enters the right atrium and then the left atrium through the foramen ovale. From the left atrium the blood passes into the left ventricle and then the aorta.
  • The ductus venosus usually closes within a few minutes after birth but this may take longer in preterm neonates.