Laterality, heterotaxy, and isolated congenital heart defects : The genetic basis of the segmental nature of the heart.

ABSTRACT

To date, the role of NODAL in normal and abnormal L-R asymmetry has been well established. In a recent paper, mutations of this gene have been reported in heterotaxy but also in transposition with D- or L-ventricular loop. The effects of NODAL and other laterality genes can be recognized separately in all three cardiac segments for topology and septation of the atria, for ventricular looping, and for spiralization and alignment of the great arteries.