Anatomy Flashcards
In surgical removal of the heart, which organ must you remove first?
The lung
Which nerves pass anterior to the root of the lung?
Phrenic nerves
First step in removing the heart (after lungs are removed)
Make an incision in the fibrous pericardium. This is tough and you will have to cut through it with scissors
Pericardial cavity
Cavity between the two layers of pericardium
2 layers of pericardium
Fibrous pericardium - tough, protective layer
Serous pericardium - thin layer which secretes pericardial fluid
Haemopericardium
When the peritoneal cavity fills with blood
Cardiac tamponade
When the pressure around the heart prevents cardiac contraction
2 layers of serous pericardium
Visceral serous pericardium - in contact with the heart
Parietal serous pericardium - in contact with the walls
Second step in removing the heart
Rotate the heart forwards a little out of the pericardial sac
Pericardiocentesis:
- What is it?
- Describe the procedure
- Drainage of fluid from the pericardial cavity
- Needle is inserted via the infrasternal angle and directed superoposteriorly towards the pericardial sac, aspirating continuously.
In pericardiocentesis, how do you know that you are in the pericardial sac and are beginning to clear blood from the pericardium?
When the syringe begins to fill with blood
Transverse pericardial sinus:
- Where is it?
- Why is this of use to cardiac surgeons?
- A space within the pericardial cavity posterosuperiorly. It lies posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk
- Cardiac surgeons use this to identify and isolate the great vessels in order to commence cardiopulmonary bypass for open heart surgery. The surgeons fingertip emerges from the sinus anterior to the SVC
Clinically important surfaces of the heart (3)
Anterior (sternocostal) surface
Base (posterior) surface
Inferior (diaphragmatic) surface
Clinically important borders of the heart (4)
Right (lateral) border
Left (lateral) border
Inferior border
Superior border
Where do you usually palpate the apex beat?
The 5th intercostal space midclavicular line
What forms the superior vena cava
Brachiocephalic veins which are formed by the internal jugular and subclavian veins
Auricles of the heart
Extensions of the atria and this is to do with maximal filling
Vein that separates base of the heart from the diaphragmatic surface
Coronary sinus
Coronary arteries are the arterial blood supply to what?
Epicardium and myocardium
Where do the coronary arteries arise from?
The ascending aorta
First branches of the aorta
Coronary arteries
What happens if a coronary artery becomes blocked?
Myocardial infarction
Where is the right coronary artery?
In the right atrioventricular groove
Branches of the right coronary artery
Right marginal artery (supplies right hand margin of heart) Posterior descending (interventricular) artery