In fetal circulation, which vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta?

Prepare for the Anatomy and Physiology II Exam with comprehensive questions and detailed explanations. Gain confidence with our tailored quizzes and maximize your exam performance!

In fetal circulation, gas exchange happens at the placenta, so blood that goes to the placenta is deoxygenated. The vessels that carry blood from the fetus to the placenta are the umbilical arteries. They originate from the fetus’s internal iliac arteries and travel within the umbilical cord to the placenta, delivering deoxygenated blood for exchange. The blood returning from the placenta to the fetus travels via the umbilical vein, which carries oxygenated blood. The ductus venosus is a shunt that helps move some of that oxygenated blood toward the heart, bypassing the liver, and the foramen ovale allows blood to pass between atria to bypass the nonfunctional fetal lungs.