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Information on the Fetal Heart Video
ACLS Certification Association videos have been peer-reviewed for medical accuracy by the ACA medical review board.
Video at a Glance
- The fetal heart begins to beat at five weeks. At this point, the lungs are not yet functioning. Instead, the placenta provides the fetal heart with oxygen.
- Oxygenated fetal blood bypasses the right side of the fetal heart. The less oxygenated blood streams through the right side of the heart.
- The fetal heart and brain get the blood with the most oxygen saturation.
- The fetal right ventricle has a higher pressure and output than the left ventricle.
- The fetal lungs resist blood entry.
- Arterial blood returns to the placenta.
- Once the fetal lungs inflate, the fetal heart begins to act more like the traditional heart.
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