What does the ductus venosus become after birth?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

The essential idea is what happens to fetal shunts after birth. In the fetus, the ductus venosus carries oxygen-rich blood from the umbilical vein directly into the inferior vena cava, bypassing the liver. After birth, when the umbilical cord is clamped and placental circulation ends, this vessel closes and leaves behind a fibrous remnant known as the ligamentum venosum. This structure sits in the liver in the fissure for the ligamentum venosum and marks the transition to normal postnatal hepatic blood flow through the liver parenchyma. The other options aren’t correct because the ductus venosus does not dissolve completely or become a vein or an artery; it becomes the ligamentum venosum.