Embryology parts 5-8 Flashcards
(56 cards)
The formation of the heart tube occurs through fusion of what
Endocardial tubes
State the structures in heart tube
Truncus arteriosis
Bulbus cordis
Primative ventricles
Primative atrium
Just look at the folding of the heart, the diagram is excellent
…… figure 5.5.1
Give a brief overview of the development of the heart tube
The cardiogenic cells develop in a U (or horseshoe) pattern outside the embryo proper.
These form a pair of heart tubes (endocardial tubes), which fuse to form a single heart tube by ~21 days post-fertilisation.
This tube is already able to pump blood unidirectionally.
T/f, vessels attached to the correct heart region following the looping and septation of chambers
F… during looping and septation
the vascular connections are maintained, so that the major veins are connected to the atria, and major arteries to the ventricles.
3 key steps in heart development
- Looping.
- Septation
- Valves develop
What is the reason for the difference between heart in utero and after delivery
The provision of oxygen to the embryo and fetus from the placenta is linked to the main structural difference between the heart in utero, and after delivery.
Blood returning to the right atrium in utero can be described as
Well oxygenated
Differences between heart in utero and in life
- Little blood flow to the lungs is needed, there is a gap between the atria, the foramen ovale.
Blood returning goes striaht into left atrium, then left ventricle then aorta to the rest of body - Main artery from right ventricle (i.e. pulmonary artery) connected to aorta via ductus arteriosis. Any blood that got into pulmonayr circulation goes through this into the aorta
What changes should occur to the heart following birth
ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale should close, converting the circulation to the ‘figure of 8’ system and allowing oxygenation within the lungs
What usually corrects cardiac abnormalities
As most abnormalities are structural, surgical procedures have been developed to correct some abnormalities
Why does surgery have to occur shortly after delivery in babies with cardiac defects
As these complications may become clinically significant at the time of birth (as the blood flow needs to be changed to include the lungs), surgery may need to be done shortly after delivery.
2 important conditions in the tetraology of fallot
- Pulmonary artery stenosis (decreasing blood flow to the lungs)
- Septal defect between ventricles (allow deoxygenated blood into the left ventricle)
other 2 are
thickened right ventricle wall
and
aorta overriding septal defect
Outline a case of transposition of blood vessels
- Aorta attached to right ventricle
- Pulmonary arteries attached to left
Blood comes from body deoxygenated into right side of heart, then back through aorta to body
Blood goes from left side of the heart to the pulmonayr arteries to lungs, then back through pulmonary veins to the left atrium again, so oxygenated blood just passing between heart and lungs and not getting to rest of body
Why is transposed blood vessels not a problem before birth . What happens after birth
the foreman ovale and ductus arteriosus allow mixing of the blood flows sufficiently to sustain fetal growth and development. The closure of these connections after delivery separates the blood flows, so the infant becomes cyanotic (‘blue baby syndrome’).
What is treatment for transposed blood vessels leading to cyanosis
Administering prostaglandins to keep the ductus arteriosus open (PGE2)
perhaps opening of a link between the atria
Definitive treatment would usually involve the switching of the two arteries, to restore the normal blood flows
T/f spina bifida is very rare
The incidence of spina bifida is 1-2 per 1000 pregnancies, with variation between study populations. This makes it one of the most common developmental defects.
T/f surgery is a cure for spina bifida
F…. skin can be placed to protect the neural tissue instead of exposed spinal cord,
however
it will not address any functional problems
defects in the spinal cord often lead to damage to the nerves supplying associated tissues
Most effective treatment for spina bifida
folic acid; if the maternal diet is low in folate, then the risks of spina bifida increase
The timing of spinal development is early, so folate needs to be given before conception, preferably about 3 months beforehand.
T/f low maternal folate accounts for all spina bifida
F t has been calculate that about 70% of cases of spina bifida are due to low maternal folate, so this does not explain all of this developmental abnormality.
T/f spina bifida occurs on the lower back
F…
spina bifida refers to two spines (the unclose neural tube)…
not necessarily a single defect, not necessarily on lower back
When does formation of neural tube occur
Formation of the neural tube, the precursor of the central nervous system occurs early in pregnancy, about 3 weeks after fertilisation (Figure 5.6.2). Fusion should occur through the neural tube, but in spina bifida this process is not completed.
What is anencephaly
compromised development of the head and skull
General aetiology is thought to be similar to spina bifida, though the result of a lack of closure of the anterior neuropore.
T/f anencephaly linked to low folate
Some studies have suggested that folic acid can also decrease the incidence of anencephaly, although the smaller numbers make it difficult to determine the scale of the benefit.
