Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is best described as an opening between the ventricles.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is best described as an opening between the ventricles.

• A. An opening between the septum between the ventricles.
• B. A hole in the atrial septum.
• C. An abnormal aortic valve.
• D. A narrowed pulmonary artery.

Answer: (A)

Ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall that divides the two lower chambers of the heart, the ventricular septum, creating an opening between the ventricles. This allows blood to flow from the left ventricle to the right ventricle, especially when the left-sided pressure is higher, leading to a left-to-right shunt and increased pulmonary blood flow. The description “an opening between the ventricles” matches this defect exactly. The other choices describe different problems—an opening in the atrial septum would be an atrial septal defect, an abnormal aortic valve points to valvular disease, and a narrowed pulmonary artery is pulmonary stenosis—none are VSD.

Ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall that divides the two lower chambers of the heart, the ventricular septum, creating an opening between the ventricles. This allows blood to flow from the left ventricle to the right ventricle, especially when the left-sided pressure is higher, leading to a left-to-right shunt and increased pulmonary blood flow. The description “an opening between the ventricles” matches this defect exactly. The other choices describe different problems—an opening in the atrial septum would be an atrial septal defect, an abnormal aortic valve points to valvular disease, and a narrowed pulmonary artery is pulmonary stenosis—none are VSD.