Morfologia kliniczna przegrody serca i jej wad rozwojowych

Malformations of the cardiac septum associated with intracardiac shunting constitute the most common group of congenital heart defects in the human population. They can be isolated or exist as a part of more complex cardiovascular anomalies. Importance of septal defects implicates a need for precise description of anatomy and embryogenesis of interatrial, atrioventricular and interventricular septums in a way useful for diagnosis and therapy. This paper presents morphology of the cardiac septum consistent with current international bibliography. True atrial septal defects are separated from other forms of interatrial communication. Common features of all atrioventricular septal defects are described. Morphological criteria independent on numerous existing classifications are presented as a base for accurate description of ventricular septal defects. In the era of rapidly developing prenatal cardiology, paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery implicating effective treatment of intracardiac shunts, the knowledge about anatomy of cardiac septal malformations is crucial for specialist in various fields of medicine. Unified communication code assures appropriate cooperation of physicians involved in treatment of patients in every period of their life.