ductus arteriosus

noun

duc·​tus ar·​te·​ri·​o·​sus ˈdək-təs-är-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-səs How to pronounce ductus arteriosus (audio)
: a short broad vessel in the fetus that connects the pulmonary artery with the aorta and conducts most of the blood directly from the right ventricle to the aorta bypassing the lungs

Examples of ductus arteriosus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rarely, a murmur can be heard through a structure that should no longer be open, such as a patent ductus arteriosus -- necessary in fetal life to allow oxygenated blood from the placenta to flow into the developing fetal body. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 13 Aug. 2021 Doctors there eventually diagnosed her with patent ductus arteriosus, a heart abnormality that, at the time, generally led to an early death. BostonGlobe.com, 28 Sep. 2019 Over the course of two and a half hours, Gross successfully tied off the child’s patent ductus arteriosus — a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart — allowing blood to flow normally. BostonGlobe.com, 28 Sep. 2019 Kevin is a 10-week-old kitten who has been diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said in a statement. BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2019 The Ghandour family acknowledged that Layla suffered from patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart disease commonly described as a hole in the heart. Declan Walsh, New York Times, 16 May 2018 Leah has a heart defect called patent ductus arteriosus or PDA. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2017 All four children were born with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), or a hole in the heart. Sofia Anjuman Ali, Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ductus arteriosus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, arterial duct

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ductus arteriosus was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near ductus arteriosus

Cite this Entry

“Ductus arteriosus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ductus%20arteriosus. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

ductus arteriosus

noun
ductus ar·​te·​ri·​o·​sus -är-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-səs How to pronounce ductus arteriosus (audio)
: a short broad vessel in the fetus that connects the pulmonary artery with the aorta and conducts most of the blood directly from the right ventricle to the aorta bypassing the lungs

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