MadSci Network: Anatomy
Query:

Re: what is Tetralogy of Fallot?

Area: Anatomy
Posted By: Leslie Gartner, Faculty Histology/Anatomy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Date: Fri Jun 13 21:33:49 1997
Area of science: Anatomy
ID: 865861683.An
Message:

Dear Irene:

Tetrology of Fallot is a relatively common developmental cardiac defect.

It has four components:

  1. Pulmonary stenosis is narrowing of the pulmonary outflow from the heart - the route blood takes from the R. ventricle to the pulmonary artery and lungs. (You also asked about pulmonary atresia: yes it may occur if the truncus arteriosus divides so unequally that the pulmonary trunk has no lumen).
  2. Ventricular septal defect (a hole in the wall between the ventrivles of the heart).
  3. Overriding aorta is caused because the aorta arises just above the septal defect. It thus receives blood from both ventricles. The higher than normal pressure on the right side results in the fourth condition --
  4. Hypertrophy (enlargement) of the right ventricle.

As far as missing half of the skull is concerned, I don't think that it is associated with this anomaly, but you can have more than a single anomalous condition in a single individual. However, I am not sure about the veracity of this last paragraph.

Good luck,

Leslie P. Gartner


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