A Hole in the Interventricular Septum in an Infant May

Question

A hole in the interventricular septum in an infant may cause all of the following symptoms except
A) mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood.
B) a murmur to be heard.
C) the heart to work harder.
D) the individual to have low peripheral oxygen saturation.
E) build-up of atherosclerotic plaque.

Accepted Answer

A hole in the interventricular septum would not cause build-up of atherosclerotic plaque. The other choices are all potential symptoms of a ventricular septal defect. Mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood can lead to decreased oxygen saturation and increased work for the heart, resulting in symptoms such as cyanosis, poor feeding, and failure to thrive. The presence of a murmur is characteristic of an abnormality in heart sounds caused by turbulent blood flow through the hole.