foramen ovale
Fetal heart hole
Foramen ovale is a small opening in the wall between the heart's upper chambers, present in fetuses and typically closing shortly after birth.
It allows blood to bypass the lungs, which aren't yet in use.
If it remains open into adulthood, it's called a patent foramen ovale and may require medical attention.
A separate foramen ovale is an opening in the skull through which a nerve passes.
Of the cord connecting fetus
After childbirth
- first breathNewborn's opening gasp
- infancyEarliest period of life
- premature infantBaby born early
Opening between heart's atria
- decompression sicknessGas bubbles from pressure change
- migraine with auraHeadache with visual warning signs
- hypoxemiaLow blood oxygen levels
- cyanosisBlue skin from low oxygen
Heart's venous intake chamber
- left atriumHeart's upper oxygen-rich chamber
- atriaRoofed central courts
- ventriclesMuscular pumping chambers
- pulmonary veinsVessels returning oxygenated blood
Ultrasound of the heart
- DopplerMotion-caused frequency change
- catheterizationMedical tube insertion procedure
- angiographyImaging of blood vessels
Preventing blood from clotting
- surgical repairMedical procedure restoring function
- stroke preventionAvoiding brain blood-flow interruption
umbilical
Of the cord connecting fetus
perinatal · oxygenated blood · maternal · gestational · intrauterine
postnatal
After childbirth
- first breathNewborn's opening gasp
- infancyEarliest period of life
- premature infantBaby born early
atrial septal defect
Opening between heart's atria
- decompression sicknessGas bubbles from pressure change
- migraine with auraHeadache with visual warning signs
- hypoxemiaLow blood oxygen levels
right atrium
Heart's venous intake chamber
- left atriumHeart's upper oxygen-rich chamber
- atriaRoofed central courts
- ventriclesMuscular pumping chambers
echocardiogram
Ultrasound of the heart
- DopplerMotion-caused frequency change
- catheterizationMedical tube insertion procedure
- angiographyImaging of blood vessels
anticoagulation
Preventing blood from clotting
- surgical repairMedical procedure restoring function
- stroke preventionAvoiding brain blood-flow interruption
- heart anatomymyocardium, endocardium, pericardium, atrium, ventricle
- fetal circulationumbilical cord, placenta, fetal heart
- skeletal openingsspinal canal, auditory canal, ear canal, cribriform plate, orbit
- skull basecribriform plate, posterior fossa
- sphenoid bone
- cranial nervesoptic nerve, olfactory nerve, facial nerve, vagus nerve, hypoglossal nerve
foramen ovalesealed
Closed to prevent entry
closed · shut · occluded · imperforate · atrial septal defect