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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
A Pipeline to Characterize Structural Heart Defects in the Fetal Mouse
Published on: December 16, 2022
[Atrioventricular septal defect. Anatomopathologic study and embryological correlation]
Magdalena Kuri Nivon1, Edith Martínez Martínez, Luis Muñoz Castellanos
1Escuela Superior de Medicina, IPN, México, DF.
Insights
Atrioventricular septal defects involve complex congenital heart disease with deficient septation. Delayed atrioventricular cushion development is the key cause of this spectrum of heart malformations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Developmental Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a complex congenital heart disease characterized by deficient cardiac septation.
- This condition particularly affects the atrioventricular and ventricular levels of the heart.
- Understanding its pathogenesis is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the anatomopathologic experience with AVSD at the National Institute of Cardiology.
- To establish an anatomo-embryological correlation to elucidate the pathogenesis of AVSD.
- To analyze the spectrum of anatomical variations in AVSD.
Main Methods:
- Morphological analysis of 70 human hearts using the sequential segmentary system.
- Determination of atrial situs, cardiac segment connections, septa, septal defects, ventricular geometry, fibrous skeleton, and associated anomalies.
- Histological analysis of chick embryonic hearts compared with human heart development stages for embryological correlation.
Main Results:
- Seventy hearts exhibited a common atrioventricular valve; five had two separated atrioventricular valves.
- Ventricular septal defects were open in the common valve type and closed in the separated valve type.
- AVSD presents as a broad spectrum of anatomical variations.
Conclusions:
- Morphological knowledge of AVSD is vital for understanding its physiopathology, clinical diagnosis, and surgical management.
- Delayed development of the atrioventricular cushions is emphasized as the primary pathogenetic explanation for AVSD.
- This study provides insights into the complex anatomy and developmental origins of atrioventricular septal defects.
Abstract:
Atrioventricular septal defect is a complex congenital heart disease in which cardiac septation is deficient especially at atrioventricular and ventricular levels. The anatomopathologic experience at the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez" is described; an anatomo-embryological correlation was made to gain an insight of the pathogenesis. Seventy hearts were analyzed morphologically with the sequential segmentary system. Atrial situs, connections of cardiac segments, cardiac septa, septal defects, ventricular geometry, fibrous skeleton and associated anomalies were determined. Histologic sections of chick embryonic hearts were analyzed and compared with stages of human heart development, serving as basis to elaborate the anatomo-embryological correlation. Seventy hearts had a common atrioventricular valve and five had two separated atrioventricular valves. The ventricular septal defect was open in the first type and closed in the second; the other features were the same in both. This cardiopathy is shown as a broad spectrum of anatomical variations. The morphological knowledge of this cardiac malformation is useful to understand the physiopathology, to make a precise clinical diagnosis, and to give the best orientation to the surgeon. Delay in the development of the atrioventricular cushions is emphasized as the pathogenetic explanation for this type of congenital heart disease.
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