Prepare for the Fetal Echocardiography Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions that come with hints and explanations. Ace your exam preparation!

Multiple Choice

How would a complete atrioventricular septal defect appear in the four-chamber view?

In a complete atrioventricular septal defect, the endocardial cushions fail to fuse to form separate mitral and tricuspid valves, creating a single common AV junction and a common AV valve that bridges both atria and both ventricles. In the four-chamber view this shows up as one large AV valve orifice rather than two distinct valves, so blood from both atria flows through this single orifice into both ventricles. At the same level, you can see a primum-type atrial septal defect at the lower portion of the atrial septum and an inlet-type ventricular septal defect, both part of the AV canal defect. This combination—one AV valve, a primum ASD, and an inlet VSD—defines a complete AV septal defect.

In a complete atrioventricular septal defect, the endocardial cushions fail to fuse to form separate mitral and tricuspid valves, creating a single common AV junction and a common AV valve that bridges both atria and both ventricles. In the four-chamber view this shows up as one large AV valve orifice rather than two distinct valves, so blood from both atria flows through this single orifice into both ventricles. At the same level, you can see a primum-type atrial septal defect at the lower portion of the atrial septum and an inlet-type ventricular septal defect, both part of the AV canal defect. This combination—one AV valve, a primum ASD, and an inlet VSD—defines a complete AV septal defect.