Final answer:
The foramen ovale is an opening between the right and left atria, not between the pulmonary trunk and the aorta, making the statement false. The ductus arteriosus is the connection that allows blood to bypass the fetal lung circulation by connecting the pulmonary trunk to the aorta.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the foramen ovale is a connection between the pulmonary trunk and the aorta is false. The foramen ovale is actually an opening in the interatrial septum that allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium during fetal development. This shunt helps to divert oxygenated blood from the fetal pulmonary circuit, bypassing the lungs which are not in use until after birth. The ductus arteriosus, not the foramen ovale, is the vessel that connects the pulmonary trunk to the aorta during fetal development.
When a newborn begins to breathe, blood pressure in the atria increases and the shunt closes, leaving behind the fossa ovalis in the interatrial septum, indicating the location of the former foramen ovale. The importance of these shunts, including the ductus arteriosus and ductus venosus, is paramount in fetal circulation, but they transform shortly after birth as the child adapts to breathing air.