A 9-month-old girl was admitted to the children's hospital with tachypnea (fast breathing) and shoness of breath. Physical examination fuher exhibits tachycardia (fast hea rate), a bounding peripheral pulse, and her angiographs reveal a patent ductus aeriosus. Which of the following embryonic aerial structures is most likely responsible for the origin of the patent ductus aeriosus?
High-Yield Explanation
The left sixth aoic arch is responsible for the development of both the ductus aeriosus and the pulmonary aeries. The ductus aeriosus closes functionally in an infant soon after bih, with anatomic closure requiring several weeks, but persistent 6th arch aery lead to PDA.