ductus arteriosis

[ duhk-tuhs ahr-teer-ee-oh-sis ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a fetal blood vessel that connects the left pulmonary artery directly to the descending aorta, normally closing after birth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ductus arteriosis¹

1805–15; < New Latin: literally, arterial channel

Example Sentences

Due to the high altitude and lower levels of oxygen, babies born in La Paz are an estimated 10 times more likely to develop a condition known as patent ductus arteriosis - or a hole in the heart.

From BBC