CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What is Tetralogy of Fallot?

1. A surgical procedure for congenital heart defects

2. A combination of four congenital heart abnormalities

3. A type of heart valve disease

4. A genetic condition affecting the heart

The correct answer is: A combination of four congenital heart abnormalities

Tetralogy of Fallot is defined as a combination of four congenital heart abnormalities that occur together, leading to various cardiovascular issues. The four specific defects commonly associated with this condition include ventricular septal defect (a hole between the heart's ventricles), pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the outflow tract from the right ventricle), right ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the muscular walls of the right ventricle), and an aorta that overrides the ventricular septal defect. This condition is significant because the combination of these defects can lead to reduced oxygenation of blood, resulting in cyanosis (a bluish coloration of the skin due to low oxygen levels). The presence of these four abnormalities distinctly characterizes Tetralogy of Fallot, which must be understood for proper diagnosis and treatment. The other options do not accurately describe Tetralogy of Fallot. A surgical procedure for congenital heart defects refers to potential treatments rather than the condition itself. A type of heart valve disease is more specific to issues affecting heart valves and does not encompass the multifactorial nature of this congenital heart condition. Lastly, while genetics may play a role in congenital heart defects, referring to it as a genetic condition is overly simplistic and does not