During cardiac examination of a newborn infant, a murmur is detected, and the diagnosis of patent ductus aeriosus is made. Which of the following best describes the direction of blood flow through the patent ductus aeriosus in this infant?

The ductus aeriosus connects the left pulmonary aery to the aoic arch. It is derived from the left sixth aoic arch. During prenatal life, the pressure gradient causes blood to flow from the left pulmonary aery to the aoa. However, after bih, the pressure gradient reverses, and if the ductus aeriosus remains patent, the flow is from the aoa to the left pulmonary aery. The ductus aeriosus does not connect to the pulmonary veins or the right pulmonary aery. The flow through the ductus aeriosus is from the left pulmonary aery to the aoa prior to bih, but reverses after bih.