Primary interatrial foramen
| Primary interatrial foramen | |
|---|---|
Cardiovascular system | |
| Location | Developing heart |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen primum |
| TE | interatrial foramen_by_E5.11.1.5.2.1.1 E5.11.1.5.2.1.1 |
| Anatomical terminology] | |
In the developing
Structure
The foramen lies beneath the edge of
Closure
The septum primum, a
Clinical significance
Failure of the septum primum to fuse with the endocardial cushion can lead to an ostium primum atrial septal defect.[1] This is the second most common type of atrial septal defect[2] and is commonly seen in Down syndrome. Typically, this defect will cause a shunt to occur from the left atrium to the right atrium. Children born with this condition may be asymptomatic, however, over time pulmonary hypertension and the resulting hypertrophy of the right side of the heart will lead to a reversal of this shunt. This reversal is called Eisenmenger syndrome.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 512 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
