By using an orderly approach the physician is able to correlate bedside observations and laboratory findings with pathophysiology and the basic elements of cardiac pathology, as shown in the following specimens.
Membranous VSD
This is a pathology specimen from a patient with a membranous ventricular septal defect as viewed from both the right and left ventricles. Labels identify the ventricular septal defect, septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve and anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The ventricular septal defect is large and would result in equal right and left ventricular pressures. In an infant, this defect would likely cause heart failure.
Supracristal VSD
This is a pathology specimen from a patient with a supracristal ventricular septal defect as viewed from both the right and left ventricles. In the left ventricular view, labels identify the ventricular septal defect, a mitral valve leaflet and both the right and posterior cusps of the aortic valve. In the right ventricular view, the arrow extends from outside the heart into the left ventricle and through the ventricular septal defect into the pulmonary valve. Note in the left ventricular view the double-barreled view into both the aortic and pulmonary valves.