Foramen ovale (heart)
In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale (/fəˈreɪmən oʊˈvæli, -mɛn-, -ˈvɑː-, -ˈveɪ-/), also foramen Botalli or the ostium secundum of Born, allows blood to enter the left atrium from the right atrium. It is one of two fetal cardiac shunts, the other being the ductus arteriosus (which allows blood that still escapes to the right ventricle to bypass the pulmonary circulation). Another similar adaptation in the fetus is the ductus venosus. In most individuals, the foramen ovale closes at birth. It later forms the fossa ovalis.
| Foramen ovale (heart) | |
|---|---|
Sketch showing foramen ovale in a fetal heart. Red arrow shows blood from the inferior cava traveling to the right atrium and then to the left atrium. HF: right atrium, VF: left atrium. HH and VH: right and left ventricle. The heart still has a common pulmonary vein (LV), instead of four. | |
Heart of human embryo of about thirty-five days, opened on left side. | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Septum secundum |
| System | Cardiovascular system |
| Identifiers | |
| MeSH | D054085 |
| TA98 | A12.1.01.007 |
| TA2 | 3967 |
| FMA | 86043 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
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