The opening between the atria of the fetal heart that normally closes shortly after birth.
An opening between the two parts of the heart in a fetus.
A hole in the septum, the wall that divides the right and left sides of the heart, which normally closes at birth.
The opening between the two atria of the fetal heart; it permits blood to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium to bypass the lungs. It usually closes shortly after birth as a result of hemodynamic changes related to respiration. If it remains open, the defect can be repaired surgically. Patency of the foramen ovale occasionally is a source of paradoxical stroke in patients with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.
The foramen ovale, a cardiac structure present during fetal development, enables the blending of blood within the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. Following birth, as pressure increases within the left atrium, this opening gradually seals shut, enabling the heart to function in a dual-sided manner: the right side propels deoxygenated blood to the lungs, while the left side pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body.