Which vital organs have increased blood flow during fetal acute hypoxia?

During fetal acute hypoxia, the body prioritizes the survival of vital organs that are critical for maintaining essential functions. In this context, the heart and brain are given increased blood flow as they are essential for sustaining life.

When a fetus experiences hypoxia (a deficiency in oxygen), the body responds by activating various mechanisms to ensure that the most critical organs continue to receive adequate oxygen and nutrients. The brain is particularly sensitive to oxygen deprivation; during hypoxic episodes, cerebral autoregulation enables the fetus to maintain blood flow to the brain, ensuring that neural functions are preserved. Similarly, the heart, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, is vital for maintaining circulation and delivering oxygen-rich blood to the tissues.

Other organs, like the skin, limbs, spleen, kidneys, and intestines, do not receive the same level of prioritization during episodes of acute hypoxia because their functions are not as immediately critical to the fetus's survival. Instead, the body redistributes blood flow away from these less critical areas to keep the heart and brain functioning optimally, highlighting the body's adaptive response to low oxygen conditions.