FORAMEN OVALE Meaning and
Definition
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The foramen ovale is a natural anatomical structure found in the heart, specifically in the interatrial septum, which is the wall that separates the right and left atria. It is an opening or hole located between these two atria. During fetal development, the foramen ovale serves a crucial function by allowing blood to bypass the non-functioning lungs and flow directly from the right atrium to the left atrium. This is necessary because the lungs are not yet providing oxygen to the blood in the womb, and the majority of blood is received from the placenta.
Normally, after birth, the pressure in the left atrium becomes higher than the right atrium, causing the foramen ovale to close. This closure is facilitated by the pressure changes and the flap-like valve called the septum primum to seal the foramen ovale shut permanently. However, in some individuals, the foramen ovale may remain partially or completely patent, meaning it stays open. This condition is known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO).
A patent foramen ovale doesn't usually pose any significant health issues and often goes undetected. However, there can be instances when it may lead to complications such as paradoxical embolism (the passage of a blood clot from the venous side to the arterial side), which can potentially cause strokes or other related problems. In such cases, medical intervention may be required to assess the risks and decide on potential treatment options like surgical closure or the use of a transcatheter closure device. Overall, the foramen ovale plays a crucial role in fetal circulation, but its closure should typically occur in a healthy individual following birth.
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(1) The opening in the fetal heart between the two auricles, or atria; (2) a large opening in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, behind the f. rotundum, transmitting the third portion of the trigeminal nerve, and the small meningeal artery.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for FORAMEN OVALE
- doramen ovale
- coramen ovale
- voramen ovale
- goramen ovale
- toramen ovale
- roramen ovale
- firamen ovale
- fkramen ovale
- flramen ovale
- fpramen ovale
- f0ramen ovale
- f9ramen ovale
- foeamen ovale
- fodamen ovale
- fofamen ovale
- fotamen ovale
- fo5amen ovale
- fo4amen ovale
- forzmen ovale
- forsmen ovale
Etymology of FORAMEN OVALE
The word "Foramen Ovale" has its etymology in Latin. "Foramen" means "opening" or "hole", while "Ovale" means "oval". Together, "Foramen Ovale" translates to "oval opening" in Latin. The term refers to a naturally occurring hole in the fetal heart, which usually closes after birth.
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