Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Physiology | Materno-fetal Circulation Changes At Birth

Materno-fetal Circulation Changes At Birth
Session overview
Description
This session will explain fetal circulation and the changes which occur at birth.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain fetal circulation
• Describe the changes that occur at birth

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• Module 07b/Pregnancy/Physiology of Pregnancy and Labour 1 (001-0706)
• Module 07b/Pregnancy/Physiology of Pregnancy and Labour 2 (001-0707)
• Module 07b/Pregnancy/Functions of the Placenta (001-0708)

Whilst in the uterus, fetal circulation is designed to receive oxygenated blood from the placenta via the umbilical vein and return deoxygenated blood to the placenta via two umbilical arteries (Fig 1). However, at birth major changes take place in the neonatal circulation in order for the neonates to establish independent circulation without the placenta.