Ductus venosus

[nurmd01]

What is really the function of ductus venosus, why do we need 50% of the oxygenated blood to bypass the liver and go directly to IVC?

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[Macaroon_Berry]

you want the most oxygenated blood to reach the brain in utero. Remember the 3 shunts (ductus venosus, foramen ovale, and ductus arterioles) are all placed strategically to allow the max oxygenated blood coming from the placenta to reach the brain, and then the rest can be mixed with some de-oxygenated blood from the inferior vena cava and superior vena cava to reach the rest of the baby's body.