3.4 The Heart Flashcards
Which chamber of the heart do the superior and inferior vena cava connect to?
Right atrium
Which cavity is the heart found in?
The pericardial cavity
Is the heart anterior or posterior to the sternum?
Posterior
Between which two vertebrae is the thoracic angle found? Why is this significant in terms of the heart?
Between T4/T5. This is where the heart starst.
What is the mediastinum?
Medial: Middle
Stinum: Space
The mediastinum is the area between the lungs
What are the components of the inferior mediastinum? In which one is the heart located?
- Anterior
- Middle (Heart located here!)
- Posterior
Is the heart posterior or anterior to the oesophagus?
Anterior
Is the heart superior or inferior to the diaphragm? Are they connected, and why does this matter?
- Superior to diaphragm
- They are connected, which means that - when we breathe through our stomach - the heart is stretched
Why do we have the pericardium?
- Stability
- Lubrication
- Prevents adhesion and infection
List the layers of the heart from external to internal
- Parietal pericardium
- Visceral pericardium/Epicardium
- Myocardium
- Endocardium
What is in the pericardial cavity (aside from the heart)?
Fluid (for lubrication etc.)
What is another name for the visceral pericardium?
Epicardium
What is cardiac tamponade?
- Blood leaks into the pericardial sac
- The pericardial sac cannot stretch
- Atria can no longer be filled
- People die
List the positions of the four valves of the heart
- Between left ventricle and left atrium
- Between right ventricle and right atrium
- Between right ventricle and pulmonary artery
- Between left ventricle and aorta
What are the names of the two types of valves of the heart?
- Semilunar (half moon): ventricles and aorta/pulmonary trunk
- Atrioventricular: ventricles and atria
Which intercostal space is the apex of the heart in?
5th
What are the muscles on the rough wall of the heart called?
Pectinate muscles
What is the smooth wall of the heart called?
Sinus venarum. (was a vein during development)
What is the dimple in the sinus venarum called?
Oval fossa
What is the name of the border between the pectinate muscles and the sinus venarum?
Crista terminalis (a crest)
What is the name of the right atrioventicular valve of the heart? Why?
Tricuspid valves. Contains three cuspids (like tri-weekly)
Which muscles is the tricuspid valve connected to? By what?
Connected to the papillary muscles by tendinous cords.
What is the function of papillary muscles?
Prevent regurgitation of blood back into the right atrium during systole.
What is the name of the wall that separates the two ventricles of the heart?
Interventricular septum
What is the equivalent of the pectinate muscles for the right ventricle?
Trabeculae carnae