Ductus arteriosus

(Also called the ductus arteriosus, ductus arteriosus or patent ductus arteriosus Harvey ) The ductus arteriosus is in fetal ( prenatal ) bloodstream establishes a connection between the aorta (the main artery) and pulmonary trunk ( pulmonary artery ). Since the lung is not ventilated and is therefore not relevant with blood, the blood flows through the ductus arteriosus from the pulmonary artery directly into the aorta.

Prenatal development

Embryonic gives the ductus arteriosus from the left sixth branchial arch artery.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, may result in the context of prenatal ( prenatal ) development for premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus, since its sensitivity increases with increasing gestational age.

Postnatal development

The ductus arteriosus closes ( obliterated ) usually in the first days to weeks of after birth ( postnatal) and forms the ligamentum arteriosum, which connects connective tissue than the pulmonary trunk to the aortic arch. This process is initiated by a post-natal growth of the oxygen partial pressure (PO2) at the onset of respiration. The intima of the ductus proliferates and smooth muscles contracted active. Failure to physiological obliteration of the ductus arteriosus, it is called a patent ductus arteriosus.

Another connection between the pulmonary and systemic circulation in the fetal circulation is the foramen ovale, which is an opening between the right and left atrium and postnatal closes to the right atrium visible as fossa ovalis structure.

History of exploration

The ductus arteriosus was described by Galen, but its importance recognized until 1628 by William Harvey. The fact that the discovery was erroneously assigned to Leonardo Botallo, due to a translation error Van Horne, who created in 1680 a collected edition of Botallos works.