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What is the ductus arteriosus?

April 26, 2017arteriosus ductus

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What is the ductus arteriosus?

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The ductus arteriosus is a wide muscular blood vessel joining the pulmonary artery (main artery to the lungs) to the aorta (main artery to the body). This connection allows blood to be diverted from the lungs into the aorta during fetal development since the baby does not breathe until after delivery. The ductus arteriosus normally closes after birth. If it fails to close, PDA (patent or open ductus arteriosus) occurs and blood continues to flow from the aorta to the pulmonary artery.