Tetralogy Definitions
AORTA - The largest artery in the body which has its origin at the heart. It gives off branches to the extremities, neck, and major organs for the purpose of supplying oxygenated blood.
AORTIC VALVE - The heart valve that divides the left ventricle and the aorta. The aortic valve opens during left ventricular contraction and then closes to prohibit the backwash of oxygenated blood from the aorta into the ventricle. The aortic valve has 3 valve cusps.
ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS - A test which analyzes arterial blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide, and bicarbonate content in addition to blood pH. Used to test the effectiveness of respiration.
ATRIUM - The thin-walled chambers of the heart that pump blood into the ventricles. Consists of right atrium and left atrium.
BLOOD - Considered a circulating "tissue" composed of a fluid portion (plasma) with suspended formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets); blood (arterial blood) is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues; [venous blood] is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported for excretion.
BLUE BABY - A baby born with various defects in the structure of the heart and major blood vessels such as tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great vessels. The net result is the inability to oxygenate the blood resulting in cyanosis (bluish discoloration to the skin). Immediate surgical procedures are currently available to correct these genetic abnormalities.
CAPILLARIES - The smallest vessels which contain oxygenated blood. The capillaries, allowing red blood cells to travel in single file, are responsible for delivering oxygen to the tissues on a cellular level.
CELL - A histologic term for a unit of protoplast which contains a nucleus. Some cells (red blood cells) may be nonnucleated.
CLINICAL SYNDROME - A clinical syndrome represents a typical constellation of physical (and laboratory) findings that may be seen as part of a primary disease process. A good example is "shock," a clinical syndrome seen with many primary disease processes.
CONGENITAL - Present at birth. Something you are born with.
CYANOSIS - A bluish discoloration to the fingertips, toes, or lips that is seen in conditions of low oxygen tension in the tissues (e.g. shock, respiratory failure). The color observed in cyanosis results from hemoglobin when it is not saturated with oxygen. This physical finding is best observed in the fingertips, nail beds, or lips.
DECILITER - One-tenth of a liter; abbreviation: dl
HEART VALVE - One of four valves in the heart: mitral valve (separates left atrium and left ventricle), pulmonic valve (separates pulmonary vein and left atrium), tricuspid valve (separates right atrium and right ventricle), and the aortic valve (separates left ventricle and the aorta).
HEMOGLOBIN - A molecule with a high affinity for binding oxygen located inside red blood cells. The measurement of the hemoglobin concentration in blood is reported in grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of whole blood.
HYPERTROPHY - Increased size of an organ or structure.
LEFT ATRIUM - The thin-walled chamber of the heart which pumps blood into the left ventricle for ejection into the systemic circulation.
LEFT VENTRICLE - The muscular chamber of the heart which accepts blood from the left atrium and ejects it into the aorta to the systemic circulation.
METABOLISM - The series of biochemical reactions in living tissue through which life is maintained. Energy production through the breakdown of nutrients and energy utilization.
MITRAL VALVE - The heart valve that divides the left atrium and left ventricle. During left atrial contraction, the mitral valve opens to allow blood to flow into the left ventricle. Upon closure, the mitral valve prohibits the regurgitation of blood back into the left atrium. The mitral valve is the only heart valve that has only 2 valve cusps (all others have 3).
NUCLEUS - A vital body in the central portion of a cell which contains the genetic code; an essential agent in the regulation of growth, metabolism, reproduction, and the transmission of cell characteristics.
OCCLUSION - The blockage of a blood vessel (arterial occlusion).
PH - A numerical scale of 1-14 that measures the acidity-alkalinity of a substance. Normal arterial blood pH is approximately 7.4.
PULMONARY - Pertaining to the lungs and respiratory system.
PULMONARY STENOSIS - A congenital or acquired heart valve defect. The abnormal narrowing and ineffective opening of the pulmonic valve. Symptoms include cyanosis and difficulty breathing. Treatment is surgical in most cases of significant valvular stenosis.
PULMONIC VALVE - The heart valve that divides the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. The pulmonic valve opens when the right ventricle contracts allowing blood to flow into the pulmonary artery. The pulmonic valve on closure prohibits the backwash of unoxygenated blood into the right ventricle. The pulmonic valve has 3 valve cusps.
RED BLOOD CELLS - Also known as the erythrocyte, this disc-shaped cell loses its nucleus after leaving the bone marrow (where it is produced). Red blood cells have a life span of approximately 120 days before they are broken down by macrophages (in the spleen). Red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues by binding oxygen to hemoglobin contained inside the erythrocyte.
RESPIRATION - The act or function of breathing. Cellular respiration refers to the utilization of oxygen in the production of chemical energy (ATP) stored in foodstuffs.
RESPIRATORY FAILURE - A clinical syndrome that is defined either by the inability to rid the body of C02 or establish an adequate blood oxygen level (PAO2). See arterial blood gas analysis.
RIGHT ATRIUM - The thin-walled chamber of the heart which pumps blood into the right ventricle for ejection into the pulmonary circulation.
RIGHT VENTRICLE - The muscular chamber of the heart which accepts blood from the right atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary artery into the lungs.
SHOCK - A clinical syndrome defined by a state of profound and widespread reduction in tissue perfusion.
SPLEEN - A solid organ situated in the upper left-hand side of the abdomen just under the ribcage. The spleen functions to store red blood cells and remove "old" red blood cells from the circulation. It also plays a role as part of the reticuloendothelial system, that helps fight infections in the body. Although not essential to life, it does provide increased resistance to infection by encapsulated bacteria (e.g. Pneumococcus).
STENOSIS - A narrowing or partial occlusion. Examples include aortic stenosis, renal artery stenosis, pyloric stenosis, and mitral stenosis.
TETRALOGY OF FALLOT - A congenital heart anomaly which consists of pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, dextroposition of the aorta (aorta is on the right side instead of the left), and hypertrophy of the right ventricle. This condition results in a "blue baby" at birth due to inadequate oxygenation. Surgical correction is emergent.
TISSUE PERFUSION - A term that describes blood flow into the tissues. Inadequate tissue perfusion is a clinical syndrome known as shock.
TRICUSPID VALVE - This heart valve, named for it's three cusps (leaflets), divides the right atrium and the right ventricle. When the right atrium contracts blood flows through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. On closure, the tricuspid prohibits the backflow of blood into the right atrium.
VEIN - A vessel conveying blood from the capillaries back to the heart.
VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT - A congenital heart defect where an abnormal opening exists in the ventricular septum. Blood flows from the higher pressure left ventricle (through the defect) into the right ventricle.
VENTRICULAR SEPTUM - A muscular wall which separates the left ventricle from the right ventricle. The heart's conduction system travels through the ventricular septum. Damage to the ventricular septum (e.g. heart attack) can result in cardiac conduction abnormalities.
Source: http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/Tetralogy_of_Fallot.html
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