Problems, Problems!!! I hope someone can shed some light. I am in the Pediatrics rotation. I will be taking an exam and my teacher said know Fetal circulation. We are on a break so I am a little lost. I can't afford to wait, because when we get back I will have the exam in 2 days. I have to be able to figure out what she means. I know there are the cyanotic and acyanotic conditions. I also know about the ductus arteriosus, the ventricular septal defect and the atrial septal defect. I wonder if I have to know how these vary from normal fetal circulation. Let me clarify, the acyanotic conditions have a left to right shunt. The Ventricular septal defect is due to a septal defect between the right and left ventricles. In the case of Transposition of the Great Arteries, the Aorta arises from the Right Ventricle instead of the Left artery. How would this vary under normal circumstances. I know the aorta should be arising from the Left ventricle. Is it enough to know the results of these defects and how they affect the child or is there something I am missing. Any suggestions.