Tetralogy of Fallot: Definition of Terms
DEFINITION OF TERMS NEEDED IN STUDYING TETRALOGY OF FALLOT
Congenital defect – an abnormality that is present at birth
Cyanosis – abnormal bluish discoloration of the skin that occurs because of low levels of circulating oxygen in the blood and into the cells
Stenosis – a narrowing, or constriction, of a passage, duct, opening, etc.
Aorta – the main artery of the body, carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart to all the main arteries (ascending & descending aorta)
Hypertrophy – an increase in the size of an organ or a part of an organ caused by an increase in the size of the cells rather than the number of cells
Septum – a part or a wall of tissue that separates two cavities or two masses of tissue, as in the nose or in a fruit; partition
Ventricles (right and left) – two lower chambers of the heart which receive blood from the atria (upper chambers of the heart) and pump it into the arteries
Phenylketonuria (PKU) – a birth defect in which an enzyme needed to change an amino acid (phenylalanine) in the body into another substance (tyrosine) is lacking. Phenylalanine that builds up in the body is poisonous to the brain thereby by causing mental retardation, skin rashes and mice-like odor of the urine and skin.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – an infant disorder caused by a pregnant mother who drinks an amount of 3 ounces or more of pure alcohol daily. The affected infant may have one or more of the following defects of the head and face, arms and legs, and heart. The child may also suffer growth and mental retardation.
Chromosomal abnormality – any change in the normal structure or number of any of the chromosomes.
