Anatomy and Development of the Heart III Flashcards
The most common cyanotic heart defect
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
Caused by a malpositioning of the aorticopulmonary septum
-the cyanosis frequently appears sometime after birth
TOF
In TOF, the aorticopulmonary septum forms in a displaced fashion toward the
Pulmonary side of the truncus arteriosus and conus cordis
This displacement is toward the right side of circulation, which means it is called
Dextrapositioning
The pulmonary trunk is anatomically anterior and to the left of the
Ascending aorta
The dextrapositioning of the aorticopulmonary septum in TOF results in
- ) Pulmonary stenosis
- ) Overriding aorta
- ) Ventricular septal defect
The aorta is abnormally wide and overrides both ventricles
Overriding aorta
Secondary to the major structural defects seen in TOF, we also see
Right ventricular hypertrophy
Because of the pulmonary stenosis, the pressure in the right ventricle is elevated causing right ventricular blood to shunt through the VSD into the overriding aorta. This right to left shunt results in
Cyanosis
When the aorticopulmonary septum does not form, the truncus arteriosus does not become the
Ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk (Persistent Truncus Arteriosus)
In persisten truncus arteriosus, both ventricles empty their blood into the same artery, thus oxygenated and deoxygenated blood are mixed and we see
Cyanosis
Because the absent aorticopulmonary septum would have contributed to the membranous ventricular septum, persistent truncus arteriosus is accompanied by
VSD
This defect is the most common cause of cyanosis presenting immediately at birth
Transposition of the great arteries
In the transposition of the great arteries, the aorticopulmonary septum, which normally forms in a spiral shape is not
Spiraled
What affect does the lack of spiraling have on the positioning of the aorta and pulmonary trunk?
Their positions are reversed
i.e. right ventricle flows to aorta instead of pulmonary trunk
Septal defects are common and PDA is typically seen in infants with
Transposition
The region within the thoracic cavity between the two pleural spaces
Meiastinum
What are the following borders of the mediastinum?
- ) Superior
- ) Inferior
- ) Anterior
- ) Thoracic inlet
- ) Diaphragm
- ) Sternum
What are the following borders of the mediastinum?
- ) Posterior
- ) Lateral
- ) Vertebral column
2. ) Mediastinal Pleura
The mediastinum is arbitrarily divided into a superior and inferior region by an imaginary horizontal plane at the level of
T4
Where does this plane interset
- ) Posteriorly
- ) Anteriorly
- ) Bottom of T4 vertebra
2. ) Manubriosternal junction (sternal angle)
Within the mediastinum this plane is at the level of
the
Tracheal bifurcation
The region above this plane is the
Superior mediastinum
The region below this plane is divided into which three regions?
- ) Middle mediastinum
- ) Anterior mediastinum
- ) Posterior mediastinum
The fibrous pericardium and everything within it comprise the
Middle mediastinum
Between the pericardium and sternum is the
Anterior mediastinum
Between the pericardium and the vertebral column is the
Posterior mediastinum
The structures in the superior mediastinum may be considered in layers. From posterior to anterior the
5 layers are:
- ) Digestive layer
- ) Respiratory layer
- ) Arterial Layer
- ) Venous layer
- ) Glandular layer
The digestive layer is made up of the
Esophagus
The respiratory layer is made up of the
Trachea