Which Structure in the Fetus Allows Blood to Be Shunted

Question

Which structure in the fetus allows blood to be shunted from the right atrium to the left atrium?
A) foramen ovale
B) ductus venosus
C) ductus arteriosus
D) umbilical vein

Accepted Answer

The foramen ovale is a hole in the fetal heart that allows blood to bypass the lungs by shunting blood from the right atrium to the left atrium. This is because the fetal lungs are non-functional and oxygen is obtained through the placenta. After birth, the foramen ovale typically closes and becomes the fossa ovalis.