8: Heart Flashcards
Describe the external structure and characteristics of the heart
- cone-shaped
- muscular organ
typically 12-14cm long, 9cm wide
weighs 250-350 g
approx the size of fist
Location of the heart
mediastinum= the cavity between the two pleural cavities and rests on the superior surface if the diaphragm.
Describe the position of the heart
To the patient’s left of the midline.
Describe the base of the heart
most superior and wide part of the heart.
Posterior to the cartilage of the 2nd and 3rd ribs.
Attachment point for many major arteries.
Describe the position of the apex
most inferior part of the heart located in 5th intercostal space, 12-14cm below base.
Covering of the heart- Pericardium
The double walled sac covering the heart.
parietal pericardium
- has a fibrous attachment to diaphragm
Coverings of the heart
Parietal pericardium
pericardial cavity
Epicardium
- the parietal pericardium meets large blood vessels at the base of the heart and turns to cover the heart itself, forming the epicardium
Pericardium fluid in the pericardial cavity prevents friction during heartbeat to prevent damage to the tissue.
List the three components of the heart wall and any structural features
Epicardium (or viceral pericardium)
- outermost layer of epithelial tissue.
Myocardium
- middle layer, cardiac muscle cells + muscle and nerves
Endocardium
- inner layer of endothelial cells (flattened epithelial cells)
Explain epithelial cells name change
change to endothelial when associated with the heart.
- still, outer covering cells that form smooth lining, cover valves, line inner surfaces of blood vessels, reduce friction.
Explain an auricle
the superior surface of the atrium that can expand slightly to increase capacity and therefore ability of the atrium.
Explain the trabecular carneae
the unsmooth muscular lining of the ventricles. Though to prevent suction of each side of the heart from occurring.
Explain what prevents the valves from inverting
Chordae tendineae= fibrous tendons that anchor heart valves and are attached to
Papillary muscles= connect chordae tendineae to the heart wall.
Papillary muscles contract to
make chordae tendineae tense to prevent eversion.
Relate the structural thickness of the walls to the function.
thick intraventricular septum and left ventricle wall to pump 4-6 times more pressure to get blood around the body through the systemic circuit compared to the right side that sends to the pulmonary circuit.
The circuit that supplies blood to the body
Systemic circuit
The circuit that supplies blood to the myocardium
Pulmonary circuit
Describe the function of atrioventricular valve
function= stop blood from moving backward- allowing the heart to effectively pump
Explain when the AV valves open and close
AV valves open= when artial pressure is greater then ventricular pressure
AV valves close when= atrial pressure is less then ventricular pressure.
Explain when the semilunar valves open and close
SL valves open= ventricle pressure > arterial pressure (pulmonary artery)
SL valves close= ventricular pressure< arterial pressure
open when ventricle contracts (more ventricular pressure) and close when ventricle relaxes and arterial blood attempts to move back into the heart but is caught by cusps of valves.
What is the name of the wall separating the ventricules
Intraventricular septum (wall)
Which valves have chordae tendillie and papillary muscles and which don’t? and why?
Atrioventricular= do
Semilunar valves= do not- they are flipped upwards meaning the pressure of backflow pushes them together preventing them from opening.
Describe the anatomical position of the coronary arteries
Arise from the base of the aorta and encircle the heart in the coronary sulcus
What is the coronary sulcus
the external grove that separates atriums from ventricles