Which of the following would occur as a result of the oval opening in ...
Which of the following would occur as a result of the oval opening in ...
The correct answer is option 'C': Blood in the right atrium would mix with blood in the left atrium.
Explanation:
The oval opening in the heart, also known as the foramen ovale, is a normal fetal opening between the right and left atria of the heart. It allows blood to bypass the non-functioning fetal lungs and flow directly from the right atrium to the left atrium. This is necessary as the fetus obtains oxygen from the mother through the placenta, rather than through its own lungs.
After birth, when the baby takes its first breath, the pressure in the lungs decreases while the pressure in the left side of the heart increases. This pressure change causes the oval opening to close, and it eventually seals shut within the first few months of life. The closure of the oval opening is important to separate the systemic circulation from the pulmonary circulation and ensure that oxygenated blood flows to the body while deoxygenated blood flows to the lungs for oxygenation.
If the oval opening fails to close properly after birth, a condition known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs. In this condition, blood from the right atrium can flow directly into the left atrium, bypassing the lungs. This can lead to several consequences, including the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
The mixing of blood in the right and left atria can result in decreased oxygenation of blood supplied to the body. This is because the blood from the right atrium, which is deoxygenated, mixes with the oxygenated blood in the left atrium. As a result, the oxygen content in the blood reaching the body's tissues is reduced.
It is important to note that a patent foramen ovale (PFO) does not directly affect blood pressure in the lungs (option A), the impulses from the sinoatrial (SA) node (option B), or the amount of blood flowing into the pulmonary system (option D). These factors are not directly influenced by the presence or absence of the oval opening.