What structural abnormality within Tetralogy of Fallot is described as a large hole between the two lower chambers of the heart?
Answer
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
The text details the four interrelated structural abnormalities that characterize Tetralogy of Fallot, and one of these defined components is the Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). The VSD is specifically defined as a large hole located between the two lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. This defect is crucial because, in conjunction with pulmonary stenosis, it facilitates the right-to-left shunting of deoxygenated blood directly into the systemic circulation, which is the root cause of the characteristic cyanosis seen in affected infants.
Related Questions
Which congenital heart defect is historically the most significant cause associated with the term "blue baby"?What structural abnormality within Tetralogy of Fallot is described as a large hole between the two lower chambers of the heart?What physiological state is the bluish discoloration of the skin in a "blue baby" an outward manifestation of?What was the primary goal of the Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt performed as an initial palliative approach for TOF patients?What long-term complication frequently develops in patients following a technically successful full surgical repair of TOF?What frequent, severe episodes, where the baby would become intensely cyanotic, were characteristic of life with uncorrected TOF?In TOF anatomy, what is the significance of the "overriding aorta" positioning?What crucial factor significantly impacts the prognosis for a child diagnosed with TOF in the contemporary medical era?What specific long-term factor affecting lifespan post-repair is emphasized as requiring non-negotiable follow-up adherence?What characterized the life expectancy for infants with severe TOF prior to the routine advent of modern cardiac surgery?