Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods
Published on: March 10, 2020
The embryology of congenital heart defects
1Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, Falls Church, VA, USA.
Abstract:
The embryological development of the heart is an awesome and complex process. The heart is formed from groups of cells that coalesce into sheets of tissue. These sheets fuse to form a tube that grows into the atria and ventricles. The twists and turns of the developing heart tissue and the simultaneous septation of atria, ventricles, and truncus, along with a shifting of the atrioventricular canal and conus then position the portions of the heart in alignment to allow normal blood flow. Errors at any stage of embryological formation can result in specific congenital defects. Understanding the development of the heart in utero can provide the pediatric nurse a basis for understanding the physiological effects of embryological failures that result in congenital heart defects in the infant and child.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Heart
Chambers of the Heart
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...
Development of the Heart
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
Development of Blood Vessels
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Anatomy of the Heart
The heart has three layers: the innermost endocardium, the muscular myocardium, and the outer epicardium, all working together for optimal cardiac function.
Chambers of the Heart
The heart is made up of four...

