NREMT Paramedic Practice

Which condition involves a hole between the ventricles?

1. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

2. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

3. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)

4. Coronary Artery Disease

The correct answer is: Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

The condition involving a hole between the ventricles is known as Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). A VSD is a congenital heart defect characterized by an opening in the septum that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. This opening allows blood to flow from the left ventricle, which typically pumps oxygenated blood to the body, into the right ventricle, where deoxygenated blood is directed to the lungs. This abnormal blood flow can lead to increased pressure in the right ventricle and pulmonary blood vessels, resulting in various complications such as heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. In contrast, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) involves a hole between the atria, not the ventricles. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a combination of four heart defects, one of which includes a VSD, but it also involves additional structural abnormalities. Coronary Artery Disease refers to the narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries and does not involve any structural defects within the heart chambers themselves. Thus, VSD is specifically identified by the presence of a hole directly between the ventricles.