What anatomical abnormalities are present in tetralogy of Fallot?

Prepare for the Pediatric Cardiovascular Disorders Test. Use our test material with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The correct choice identifies the four classic anatomical defects associated with tetralogy of Fallot, which are essential to this congenital heart condition. These defects include a ventricular septal defect, which is a hole between the two ventricles, allowing deoxygenated blood to mix with oxygenated blood; pulmonary stenosis, which is a narrowing at the outflow tract from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery; an overriding aorta, where the aorta is positioned directly over the ventricular septal defect and straddles both ventricles; and right ventricular hypertrophy, which is the thickening of the muscular walls of the right ventricle that occurs in response to the increased workload caused by the other defects.

These abnormalities collectively lead to cyanotic congenital heart disease, where the oxygen saturation in the blood is reduced, causing a bluish color in the skin, especially during exertion or crying in infants. The identification of these specific heart defects is crucial for diagnosis and management of the condition.

The other options present combinations of heart defects that do not align with the established characteristics of tetralogy of Fallot. Therefore, the first choice accurately reflects the significant and defining abnormalities associated with this specific condition.

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