DUCTUS BOTALLI Meaning and
Definition
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Ductus Botalli, also known as the ductus arteriosus, refers to a vital blood vessel that plays a significant role in fetal circulation. It is a temporary connection or shunt between two major blood vessels, the pulmonary artery and the aorta, in the developing fetus in the womb.
During fetal development, the lungs are not yet fully functional, and the oxygenation of blood primarily occurs through the placenta. As a result, the ductus Botalli acts as a bypass between the pulmonary artery and aorta, allowing most of the blood to skip entering the lungs, which have high resistance due to the fluid-filled environment.
The ductus Botalli is made up of smooth muscle and connective tissue and is situated near the base of the heart. Its purpose is to redirect oxygen-rich blood coming from the placenta away from the lungs and towards the rest of the fetal body. This shunting ensures that the majority of oxygenated blood reaches vital organs and tissues, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys.
Shortly after birth, as the infant takes its first breaths and the lungs fill with air, the ductus Botalli begins to close due to several factors, including increased oxygen levels and decreased levels of certain hormones. Gradually, it becomes functionally closed within a few days to a few months after birth, forming a ligament known as the ligamentum arteriosum.
Failure of the ductus Botalli to close properly after birth, a condition known as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), can lead to compromised oxygenation, increased strain on the heart, and other complications. In such cases, medical interventions or surgical procedures may be required to close the ductus Botalli artificially.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DUCTUS BOTALLI
- ductus Botally
- ductus Botalla
- ductus Botallm
- ductus Botallh
- ductusbootalli
- ductusbotawli
- d uctus botalli
- du ctus botalli
- duc tus botalli
- duct us botalli
- ductu s botalli
- ductus b otalli
- ductus bo talli
- ductus bot alli
- ductus bota lli
- ductus botal li
- ductus botall i
Etymology of DUCTUS BOTALLI
The term "ductus Botalli" has a Latin etymology. It is derived from two Latin words:
1. "Ductus" - which means "duct" or "vessel" in Latin.
2. "Botalli" - named after Italian physician and anatomist Michael Pius Angelo Botallo (also known as Michele Botallo in Italian), who first described the blood vessel now known as the ductus arteriosus in the 16th century.
The "ductus Botalli" refers to the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta in the fetal circulation.
Similar spelling word for DUCTUS BOTALLI
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