Which cardiac chamber is most posterior in the fetal heart?

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Multiple Choice

Which cardiac chamber is most posterior in the fetal heart?

The most posterior chamber is the left atrium. It forms the posterior surface of the heart and lies behind the other chambers, because the pulmonary veins drain into its posterior wall. In contrast, the right atrium and right ventricle sit more anterior, forming the heart’s right-hand border and anterior surface, while the left ventricle contributes to the left border and apex. This posterior position of the left atrium holds true in fetal life as well, even though shunts like the foramen ovale are present.

The most posterior chamber is the left atrium. It forms the posterior surface of the heart and lies behind the other chambers, because the pulmonary veins drain into its posterior wall. In contrast, the right atrium and right ventricle sit more anterior, forming the heart’s right-hand border and anterior surface, while the left ventricle contributes to the left border and apex. This posterior position of the left atrium holds true in fetal life as well, even though shunts like the foramen ovale are present.

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