Akademik

Foramen ovale

An oval opening between the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria) that is a normal feature of the fetal and neonatal (newborn) circulation. The foramen ovale normally closes on its own by 3 months of age.

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foramen ova·le -ō-'va-(.)lē, -'vā-, -'vä- n

1) an opening in the septum between the two atria of the heart that is normally present only in the fetus

2) an oval opening in the greater wing of the sphenoid for passage of the mandibular nerve

Medical dictionary. 2011.