Final answer:
Tetralogy of Fallot is characterized by four main physiological defects: pulmonary infundibular stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular septal defect, and an overriding aorta. These defects may lead to symptoms such as a heart murmur, cyanosis, clubbing of fingers and toes, and difficulty in breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physiological defects associated with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart condition, include a combination of four heart abnormalities that can lead to several symptoms. These physiological defects are:
- Pulmonary infundibular stenosis: Narrowing of the pulmonary valve that obstructs blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.
- Right ventricular hypertrophy: Thickening of the right ventricular muscle due to the increased effort required to pump blood through the narrowed pulmonary valve.
- Ventricular septal defect: An abnormal opening in the interventricular septum that allows oxygen-poor blood to mix with oxygen-rich blood.
- Overriding aorta: The aorta is displaced and positioned over the ventricular septal defect, receiving blood from both the right and left ventricles.
Symptoms resulting from these defects include a heart murmur, cyanosis (a blue or purple skin coloration), clubbing of fingers and toes, difficulty breathing, and in children, stunted growth and development. Tetralogy of Fallot is typically diagnosed via echocardiography imaging and often requires surgical repair for long-term management.