A newborn is diagnosed shortly after birth with a rare heart defect that prevented the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle from fully forming. Which of the following would be an expected outcome of this defect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is responsible for preventing the backflow of oxygen-poor blood into the left atrium. In the absence of a fully formed valve, oxygen-poor blood will mix with oxygen-rich blood in the left atrium and then be pumped to the body. Therefore, body cells would receive less oxygen-rich blood and hence less oxygen.

A Newborn Is Diagnosed Shortly After Birth with a Rare