Anatomy

Question 1

What is the mediastinum?

Answer 1

This is the space between the two pulmonary cavities in the centre of the thoracic cavity.

Question 2

Where is the pericardium found within the body?

Answer 2

In the middle mediastinum.

Question 3

What are the two layers of the pericardial sac?

Answer 3

The parietal (outer) layer and the visceral (inner) layer.
There is also a tough external layer called the fibrous pericardium

Question 4

What is the name of the sinus which is found at the posterior of the heart and can be entered inferiorly?

Answer 4

Oblique sinus

Question 5

What is the transverse sinus?

Answer 5

This runs transversely between the group of vessels as they leave the heart. It is posterior to the pulmonary trunk and aorta and anterior to the superior vena cava.

Question 6

Which nerve supplies the pericardium?

Answer 6

The phrenic nerve - c3-c5

Question 7

Where is the tricuspid valve found?

Answer 7

It is between the right atria and right ventricle.

Question 8

What is the name of the valve between the left atria and left ventricle?

Answer 8

Mitral

Question 9

Describe the two heart sounds.

Answer 9

A lub sound is heard as the valve between the atria and ventricles closes and then a dub sound is heard as the aortic or pulmonary valve closes after the ventricles have expelled their blood.

Question 10

Name the three arteries, in order, the branch from the aortic arch.

Answer 10

Brachiocephalic (which branches into right common carotid and right subclavian), left common carotid, left subclavian.

Question 11

What two veins combine to form the superior vena cava?

Answer 11

The left brachiocephalic and the right brachiocephalic veins.

Question 12

Describe the structure of the walls of the right atria.

Answer 12

The right atria has a smooth posterior wall (where the vessels open into) and a muscular anterior wall composed of pectins the muscles.

Question 13

What is the crista terminalis?

Answer 13

This is a ridge which separates the two different walls in the right atria.

Question 14

Where can the fossa ovalis be observed in an adult heart?

Answer 14

On the inter atrial septum.

Question 15

What is the name of the muscular elevations found in the ventricles?

Answer 15

Trabeculae carneae

Question 16

What are chordate tendineae?

Answer 16

These attach to the valves and prevent them from becoming inverted on ventricular contraction. They attach to papillary muscles at the base of the ventricles.

Question 17

What are the two parts of the inter ventricular septum of the heart?

Answer 17

There is a muscular part which compromises most of it from the base upwards and then there is a small membranous part at the top.

Question 18

What separates the rough muscular wall from the conus arteriosus (smooth outflow part) in the ventricles?

Answer 18

Supra ventricular crest.

Question 19

Describe the left atrium.

Answer 19

The left atrium has blood flow from the single pulmonary trunk. It is smooth walled, with only pectinate muscles on the left auricle.

Question 20

How many times thicker are the walls of the left ventricle compared to the right?

Answer 20

2-3.

Question 21

What are the three layers to the wall of each heart chamber?

Answer 21

Endocardium (internal lining membrane) myocardium (a thick middle helical layer comprised of cardiac muscle) Epicardium (external layer which is visceral layer of pericardium)

Question 22

Where do the Left and Right Coronary arteries arise from?

Answer 22

They arise from the aortic sinuses in the ascending aorta.

Question 23

Where does blood from the coronary arteries drain into?

Answer 23

It passes into veins which drain into the coronary sinus which then drains into the right atrium.

Question 24

What is unusual about the great cardiac vein and the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery?

Answer 24

Blood flow occurs in the same direction.

Question 25

What is pericarditis?

Answer 25

This is inflammation and accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac. This causes problems as the sac cannot expand and so this puts pressure on the heart.