Simplifying imaging of the abdominal fetal precordial venous system.

The fetal precordial veins comprise a complex system of vessels delivering oxygenated blood from the placenta through the umbilical vein to the developing fetus. This system draws most of its nomenclature from the adult venous system. However, the direction of flow, as well as the relative size and prominence of the component vessels, differ from those in the postnatal circulation. Understanding the unique characteristics of the fetal circulation and its differences from the postnatal system can aid the sonographer in identifying normal1 and anomalous2 anatomy (Figure 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]