Most of this blood is sent through the ductus venosus. This is a major vein connected to the heart. The blood then reaches the inferior vena cava. The enriched blood flows through the umbilical cord to the liver and splits into 3 branches. Oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood are sent across the placenta to the fetus. The ductus arteriosus moves blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta. This shunt moves blood from the right atrium of the heart to the left atrium. The shunt that bypasses the lungs is called the foramen ovale. That's because these organs will not work fully until after birth. The purpose of these shunts is to bypass the lungs and liver. These are small passages that direct blood that needs to be oxygenated. The fetal circulatory system uses 3 shunts.
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