Part 2 - Anyone Who Had a Heart A
Case Study in Physiology Questions
and Answers
Why is the pulmonary circulation reduced in the human fetus? - answerThe lungs are
collapsed because they are not being used.
Which of the following are normal fetal bypasses for oxygenated blood, but that should
close up shortly after delivery since the baby is then breathing oxygen through its
lungs? - answerforamen ovale
ductus arteriosis
Which of the following are possible diagnoses based on these vital signs? -
answerVentricular septal defect (hole between the two ventricles)
Atrial septal defect (e.g. the foramen ovale fails to close)
Valve defect (like pulmonary or tricuspid atresia)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
An echocardiogram reveals that Brianna's heart valves are normal. That rules out some
defects. Of the following, which are now possible diagnoses? - answeratrial septal
defect
ventricular septal defect
What created Brianna's heart murmur? - answerBlood flowing from the contracting left
ventricle (higher pressure) to the right ventricle.
Due to the ventricular septal defect, where would you find mixed blood (mixture of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood)? Hint: look at the arrows to see how the blood is
flowing in Brianna's heart. - answerpulmonary arteries
right ventricle
Stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped from the left ventricle to the aorta. In
Brianna's case, how would that affect her stroke volume? - answerit would decrease her
stroke volume because some blood in the left ventricle is lost to the right ventricle.
Because the right ventricle blood volume is increased due to Brianna's condition, it
increases the pressure in the pulmonary arteries and pulmonary capillaries. If pressure
is increased, more fluid leaks out of the capillaries into the lungs. What symptom does
Brianna have that indicates this is happening? - answercongestion
What is Brianna's prognosis? - answerVery good - the hole may close on it's own, if not
surgery is often successful.
Case Study in Physiology Questions
and Answers
Why is the pulmonary circulation reduced in the human fetus? - answerThe lungs are
collapsed because they are not being used.
Which of the following are normal fetal bypasses for oxygenated blood, but that should
close up shortly after delivery since the baby is then breathing oxygen through its
lungs? - answerforamen ovale
ductus arteriosis
Which of the following are possible diagnoses based on these vital signs? -
answerVentricular septal defect (hole between the two ventricles)
Atrial septal defect (e.g. the foramen ovale fails to close)
Valve defect (like pulmonary or tricuspid atresia)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
An echocardiogram reveals that Brianna's heart valves are normal. That rules out some
defects. Of the following, which are now possible diagnoses? - answeratrial septal
defect
ventricular septal defect
What created Brianna's heart murmur? - answerBlood flowing from the contracting left
ventricle (higher pressure) to the right ventricle.
Due to the ventricular septal defect, where would you find mixed blood (mixture of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood)? Hint: look at the arrows to see how the blood is
flowing in Brianna's heart. - answerpulmonary arteries
right ventricle
Stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped from the left ventricle to the aorta. In
Brianna's case, how would that affect her stroke volume? - answerit would decrease her
stroke volume because some blood in the left ventricle is lost to the right ventricle.
Because the right ventricle blood volume is increased due to Brianna's condition, it
increases the pressure in the pulmonary arteries and pulmonary capillaries. If pressure
is increased, more fluid leaks out of the capillaries into the lungs. What symptom does
Brianna have that indicates this is happening? - answercongestion
What is Brianna's prognosis? - answerVery good - the hole may close on it's own, if not
surgery is often successful.
