Biology Questions and Answers
Fallot’s Tetralogy
- Explain and describe the signs of Fallot’s Tetralogy
Discoloration of the Skin
As a result of insufficient oxygen in the blood, the skin changes its color into bluish. The condition is known as cyanosis. The sign is mostly evident in infants or children of one year old. In infants, the discoloration of the skin may occur while crying. During that time, the child is active, and the amount of blood reaching the muscles is insufficient. The fingertips, lips, and mucous membranes may turn blue due to inadequate oxygen.
Difficulties in Breathing
The organs of infants and growing children are more active. Therefore, they require more oxygen for better functionality. However, in case there is not enough oxygen in the blood, the child gasps for air, signified by difficulties in breathing. The condition is known as dyspnea. The child tends to play for a short period and then rest. During extreme cyanotic conditions, the infants may become nonresponsive to their parents, or even pass out.
Polycythemia and Coagulation
Polycythemia is a condition where there is an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood in children. Due to the insufficient oxygen in the blood, the body reacts by overproducing the red blood cells for more Hemoglobin carrying oxygen in the body. The blood clots may also lead to cerebral infarctions. Other signs and symptoms include widening of toes and fingers, overhanging and overgrown nail tips. The infants and child suffering the condition may manifest delayed growth, low body weight, and poor appetite.
- 2. Explain and describe the defective development steps that cause the malformation to occur
Pulmonary Stenosis
Pulmonary Stenosis is the narrowing of the pulmonary valve. The defect limits the amount of the blood flowing to the Right Ventricle and the lungs. The limitation of the blood flowing to the lungs leads to an insufficient amount of oxygenated blood flowing to the rest of the body. Therefore, the low oxygenated blood reaches the organs in the body.
Ventricular Septal Defect
Ventricular Septal Defect is the existence of a hole in the Septum. ThSeptumum separates the oxygenated blood from the lungs to mix with the deoxygenated blood from the body. The presence of a hole in thSeptumum causes the oxygen-rich blood to mix with deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart. That makes the blood reaching the rest of the body organs acquire insufficiently oxygenated blood.
Overriding Aorta
A healthy heart contains Aorta located on the left Ventriclele and receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and out of the heart to the body. However, in tetralogy of Fallot, the Aorta is located in between the Left and Right ventricles. That means the deoxygenated blood from the right Ventriclele mixes with oxygenated blood from the Left Ventricle. That prevents organs from receiving sufficient oxygen.
Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
The thickening of the Right Ventricle causes the defect. Due to the existence of a hole in the Septum, the blood that comes from the Left-side of the heart into the Right Ventricle is under high pressure. The Ventriclele develops a thicker muscle due to the heart’s muscle working harder. That deprives the heart of the ability to create enough energy to pump blood to the furthest organs of the body.
The causes of the conditions in developing fetus are not well known. The scientists suggest the interaction of genes may cause it during fetus development. Some behavioral causes by the parents may include alcohol use, pregnancy in the age of over forty years, diabetic conditions, and viral illnesses.