NREMT Paramedic Practice

Which of the following is NOT a defect involved in Tetralogy of Fallot?

1. Right ventricular hypertrophy

2. Pulmonary stenosis

3. Mitral valve prolapse

4. Overriding aorta

The correct answer is: Mitral valve prolapse

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that consists of four specific anatomical abnormalities: right ventricular outflow obstruction (pulmonary stenosis), ventricular septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy, and an overriding aorta. The presence of right ventricular hypertrophy occurs because the right ventricle must work harder to pump blood through the narrowed pulmonary outflow tract. Pulmonary stenosis contributes to the difficulty in blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs. The overriding aorta, which straddles the left and right ventricles, allows mixed oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to flow into systemic circulation. Mitral valve prolapse, on the other hand, is a separate condition affecting the mitral valve and is not one of the defects associated with Tetralogy of Fallot. It involves the malfunction of the mitral valve and does not play a role in the characteristic features of this specific congenital heart defect. Therefore, identifying mitral valve prolapse as not being a defect involved in Tetralogy of Fallot is correct based on the established components of the condition.