| Ductus arteriosus | |
|---|---|
 The fetal circulatory system, with the ductus arteriosus visible at upper right. | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Aortic arch 6 |
| System | Fetal circulation |
| Source | Pulmonary artery |
| Branches | Descending aorta |
| Vein | Ductus venosus |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ductus arteriosus |
| MeSH | D004373 |
| TE | arteriosus_by_E5.11.2.1.2.0.17 E5.11.2.1.2.0.17 |
| FMA | 79871 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The ductus arteriosus, also called the ductus Botalli, named after the Italian physiologist Leonardo Botallo, is a blood vessel in the developing fetus connecting the trunk of the pulmonary artery to the proximal descending aorta. It allows most of the blood from the right ventricle to bypass the fetus's fluid-filled non-functioning lungs. Upon closure at birth, it becomes the ligamentum arteriosum.[clarification needed]