A woman's cousin gave birth to an infant with a congenital heart anomaly.The woman asks the nurse when such anomalies occur during development.Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
A) "We don't really know when such defects occur."
B) "It depends on what caused the defect."
C) "Defects occur between the third and fifth weeks of development."
D) "They usually occur in the first 2 weeks of development."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Congenital heart anomalies typically occur between the third and fifth weeks of fetal development, during the critical period of heart formation. This is when the heart is developing its basic shape and structure, and any disruptions during this time can lead to structural defects. Choices A and D are incorrect because we do know when such defects occur and they do not occur in the first 2 weeks of development. Choice B is partially correct in that some causes of congenital heart defects (such as genetic mutations or exposure to certain medications or infections) can result in defects at different stages of development, but the critical period for heart formation is still the third to fifth week.

A Woman's Cousin Gave Birth to an Infant with a Congenital