Oxygenated blood flows to the fetal heart via which vessel?

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

In fetal circulation, the placenta is where gas exchange occurs, and the oxygenated blood is carried toward the fetus by the umbilical vein. This vessel delivers fresh, oxygen-rich blood from the placenta and usually bypasses the liver via the ductus venosus, flowing into the inferior vena cava and then the heart. From there, the blood can be distributed to the fetus’s systemic circulation.

The other vessels don’t serve this role: the umbilical arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus back to the placenta; the fetal aorta distributes blood away from the heart to the body; and the maternal placenta isn’t a fetal vessel.