FE Fetal Cardiac Anatomy & Development 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At what gestational age does the fetal heart typically begin to beat?
- 3 weeks
- 5-6 weeks (Correct answer)
- 8 weeks
- 10 weeks
Correct answer: 5-6 weeks
The fetal heart begins to beat around 5 to 6 weeks of gestation, making it one of the first functional organs.
Question 2: Which structure connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta in fetal circulation?
- Foramen ovale
- Ductus venosus
- Ductus arteriosus (Correct answer)
- Umbilical artery
Correct answer: Ductus arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs by connecting the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta.
Question 3: What is the function of the foramen ovale in the fetal heart?
- Connects right ventricle to left ventricle
- Connects pulmonary artery to aorta
- Connects right atrium to left atrium (Correct answer)
- Connects aorta to umbilical vein
Correct answer: Connects right atrium to left atrium
The foramen ovale allows oxygenated blood to pass from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the non-functioning fetal lungs.
Question 4: Which imaging plane provides the best view of the four chambers of the fetal heart?
- Sagittal view
- Coronal view
- Transverse four-chamber view (Correct answer)
- Subcostal view
Correct answer: Transverse four-chamber view
The four-chamber view is the standard plane used to evaluate the size and symmetry of the atria and ventricles.
Question 5: Which vessel delivers oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus?
- Umbilical artery
- Inferior vena cava
- Ductus arteriosus
- Umbilical vein (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Umbilical vein
The umbilical vein carries oxygen-rich blood from the placenta to the fetus, entering the liver or ductus venosus.
Question 6: By which gestational week is the fetal heart structurally complete?
- 6 weeks
- 8 weeks (Correct answer)
- 10 weeks
- 12 weeks
Correct answer: 8 weeks
By the end of the 8th week of gestation, the fetal heart is structurally formed, though maturation continues.
FE Fetal Cardiac Anatomy & Development 1
At what gestational age does the fetal heart typically begin to beat?