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Glite Dictionary
ductus arteriosus

ductus arteriosus

1 8.6
A short fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, letting blood bypass the lungs before birth
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌktəs ɑrˌtɛriˈoʊsəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ducto arterioso
  • The ductus arteriosus is crucial for fetal circulation.
  • patent ductus arteriosus

Examples

  • If the ductus arteriosus does not close after birth, it can result in a condition known as patent ductus arteriosus.

  • The ductus arteriosus is an essential part of fetal circulation, allowing blood to bypass the lungs.

  • Surgeons sometimes perform procedures to close a persistently open ductus arteriosus in infants.

  • After birth, the ductus arteriosus typically closes within hours.

  • In the fetus, the ductus arteriosus allows blood to flow directly from the pulmonary artery to the aorta.

  • Doctors monitor the ductus arteriosus in newborns to ensure it closes properly after delivery.

  • If the ductus arteriosus remains open after birth, it can lead to respiratory complications.

Surface Forms

ductus arteriosus singular
ductus arteriosuses plural

Morphology

ductus + arteriosus

The term is compositionally transparent: 'ductus' denotes a duct or channel and 'arteriosus' denotes 'arterial' (relating to an artery), so together they literally mean an arterial duct. This follows standard anatomical Latin compound naming, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to the arterial duct connecting major blood vessels in the fetus.

Etymology

Ductus arteriosus is the Latin name for a short blood vessel in a baby before birth. The parts ductus, meaning 'channel', and arteriosus, meaning 'of the artery', show it is like a little bridge that lets blood take a 'shortcut' past the lungs until the baby breathes, which is why it normally closes after birth.