Term Name: | ductus arteriosus |
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Synonyms: | arterial canal, arterial duct, Botallo's duct, ductus arteriosis, ductus arteriosum, ductus botalli, ductus Botallo, ductus layton, fetal ductus arteriosus |
Definition: | A fetal blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery with the descending aorta[MESH]. In the developing fetus, the ductus arteriosus is a shunt connecting the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. It allows most of the blood from the right ventricle to bypass the fetus' fluid-filled lungs, protecting the lungs from being overworked and allowing the left ventricle to strengthen. There are two other fetal shunts, the ductus venosus and the foramen ovale[MP]. the fetal vessel that connects the left pulmonary artery with the descending aorta; the ductus arteriosus normally regresses into a fibrous cord, the ligamentum arteriousum after birth[MP] |
Ontology: | Uberon Ontology [UBERON:0005440] |