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In humans, the circulatory system is different before and after birth. The fetal circulation is composed of the placenta, umbilical blood vessels encapsulated by the umbilical cord, heart and systemic blood vessels. A major difference between the fetal circulation and postnatal circulation is that the lungs are not used during the fetal stage ...
Diagram of the human fetal circulatory system. The heart and blood vessels of the circulatory system form relatively early during embryonic development, but continue to grow and develop in complexity in the growing fetus. A functional circulatory system is a biological necessity since mammalian tissues can not grow more than a few cell layers ...
The cord is not directly connected to the mother's circulatory system, but instead joins the placenta, which transfers materials to and from the maternal blood without allowing direct mixing. The length of the umbilical cord is approximately equal to the crown-rump length of the fetus throughout pregnancy .
Also at the same time that the endocardial tubes are forming, vasculogenesis (the development of the circulatory system) has begun. This starts on day 18 with cells in the splanchnopleuric mesoderm differentiating into angioblasts that develop into flattened endothelial cells. These join to form small vesicles called angiocysts which join up to ...
The "E" series of prostaglandins are responsible for maintaining the openness of the ductus arteriosus (by dilation of vascular smooth muscle) throughout the fetal period. [3] Prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ), produced by both the placenta and the DA itself, is the most potent of the E prostaglandins, but prostaglandin E1 (PGE 1 ) also has a role in ...
(A and B) The vascular system at 5 somite forms as loose, disconnected network. (C) At the initiation of blood flow (approximately 10 somite) the vasculature begins to be remodelled into a more efficient network. (D - F) Progressive stages of vascular remodelling, culminating in the stereotypical circulatory system seen in (F). [1]
A catheter may be inserted into one of the umbilical arteries of critically ill babies for drawing blood for testing. [6] This is a common procedure in neonatal intensive care, and can often be performed until 2 weeks after birth (when the arteries start to decay too much). [7]
A fetal heartbeat can be detected at around 17 to 20 weeks of gestation when the chambers of the heart have become sufficiently developed. [20] During childbirth, the parameter is part of cardiotocography, which is where the fetal heartbeat and uterine contractions are continuously recorded.