In a normal fetal heart, which cardiac chamber is closest to the spine?

Prepare for the Fetal Echocardiography Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions that come with hints and explanations. Ace your exam preparation!

In the fetal heart, the posterior surface is formed mainly by the left atrium, which receives the pulmonary venous return. Since the spine sits behind the heart, the chamber that sits closest to the vertebral column is the left atrium. The other chambers lie more anteriorly: the right ventricle forms much of the anterior surface, the right atrium is more to the right, and the left ventricle tends to be toward the apex and is not as posterior as the left atrium. So, the left atrium is the chamber closest to the spine.