Morphology/Structure
The fossa ovalis is a shallow depression on the interatrial septum. It's surrounded by a prominent rim called the limbus fossae ovalis.
Related parts of the anatomy
Key Featrues/Anatomical Structures
The fossa ovalis sits superiorly and to the left of the opening of the inferior vena cava. In cardiac cadaveric dissection, the fossa ovalis is easily located if you pass a probe through the opening of the inferior vena cava, towards the interatrial septum.
Function
In fetal development this represents the foramen ovale which shunts blood away from the pulmonary circulation to bypass the immature fetal lungs.
The foramen closes postnatally once the lungs become functional. The fossa ovalis may remain patent in 15–25% of adults (Moore et al., 2013). A patent foramen ovale is most distinct in the upper margin of the fossa.
List of Clinical Correlates
- Atrial septal defects
- Patent foramen ovale
References
Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F. and Agur, A. M. R. (2013) Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Clinically Oriented Anatomy 7th edn.: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Right Atrium
The right atrium (RA) is identified as the chamber that receives the insertion of the inferior vena cava and coronary sinus and by a broad-based triangular appendage with characteristic pectinate muscle morphology extending to the atrioventricular (AV) junction.
