Posted: Dec 11, 2014 10:58 pm
That's one of the main reasons all prospective scuba divers should have a medical. An imperfectly closed foramen can allow bubbles into the arterial system and significantly increase the risk of decompression sickness.
Babies in utero do not have active gaseous exchange happening in their lungs and the foramen simply bypasses that system until it is needed.
Babies in utero do not have active gaseous exchange happening in their lungs and the foramen simply bypasses that system until it is needed.