Normal cardiac looping proceeds anteriorly and to which side?

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

Cardiac looping is the process that reorients the straight heart tube into the spatial arrangement of the adult heart. In a normal embryo, the looping is dextral, meaning the heart tube bends toward the right side as it moves anteriorly. This rightward, anterior bend sets up the proper positions of the future chambers and outflow tracts, and it helps establish the characteristic leftward apex of the mature heart. If the tube looped medially or posteriorly, or failed to loop correctly, the heart would end up with abnormal positioning (and potential congenital malformations like dextrocardia or other situs abnormalities).