Foramen secundum
Foramen Secundum
The Foramen Secundum (pronounced: foh-RAY-men sek-UN-dum) is a structure found in the heart during its embryonic development.
Etymology
The term "Foramen Secundum" is derived from Latin, where "foramen" means "hole" and "secundum" means "second". This is in reference to its role as the second opening that forms in the septum primum during the development of the heart.
Definition
The Foramen Secundum is an opening in the atrial septum of the embryonic heart, which allows the blood to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the lungs. This is crucial for the fetus as the lungs are not yet functional and the oxygenated blood comes from the mother via the placenta.
Related Terms
- Septum primum: The first septum of the heart, which grows towards the endocardial cushion and forms the Foramen Secundum.
- Foramen ovale: Another opening in the atrial septum, which is directly opposite the Foramen Secundum. It allows the blood to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium after the Foramen Secundum closes.
- Atrial septum: The wall that separates the two atria of the heart. It is where the Foramen Secundum and Foramen Ovale are located.
- Endocardial cushion: A structure in the embryonic heart that the septum primum grows towards. It plays a crucial role in the formation of the Foramen Secundum.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Foramen secundum
- Wikipedia's article - Foramen secundum
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