Anatomy of Cardiovascular System

Question 1

Endocardium
Epicardium
Myocardium
Pericardium

Answer 1

Endocardium= endothelial tissue that lines the interior of the heart chambers and valves

Epicardium=serous layer of the pericardium and contains the epicardial coronary arteries and veins, autonomic nerves, and lymphatics

Myocardium=thick contractile middle layer of muscle cells that forms the bulk of the heart wall

Pericardium= a double walled connective tissue sac that surrounds the outside of the heart and great vessels

Question 2

Great vessels of the heart

Answer 2

Aorta
Inferior and Superior Vena Cava
Pulmonary arteries and veins

Question 3

What are the three major arteries that branch off of the aortic arch from proximal to distal?

Answer 3

1st-brachiocephalic
2nd- left common carotid
3rd- left subclavian

Question 4

What are the 4 valves of the heart start at the right atrium?

Answer 4

Right Atrioventricular (AV) Valve (Tricuspid Valve)-controls blood from right atrium to right ventricle and is pulled by three chordae tendineae which is contracted by papillary muscles

Pulmonary Semilunar Valve- between right ventricle and pulmonary artery

Left AV valve (Mitral or Bicuspid)- control blood from the left atria to the left ventricle and is pulled on by two chordae tendineae which is contracted by papillary muscles

Aortic Semilunar Valve-between left ventricle and the aorta

Question 5

What is the role of the coronary arteries and where do they branch off from?

Answer 5

Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to all parts of the myocardium of the heart and arise from the ascending aorta just beyond where the aorta leaves the left ventricle

Question 6

What are the three branches of the right coronary artery and what do each supply?

Answer 6

Sinus node artery- right atrium

Right marginal artery- right ventricle

posterior descending artery- inferior walls of both ventricles and inferior portion of the interventricular septum

Question 7

What are the branches of the left coronary artery and what do each supply?

Answer 7

Circumflex Artery: left atrium, posterior and lateral walls of the left ventricle, anterior and inferior walls of the left ventricle

Left Anterior descending artery: anterior portion of the interventricular septum

Question 8

What are the two main veins of the heart and where do they drain?

Answer 8

Cardiac Veins (great, small, and medium) all drain into the coronary sinus which drains into the right atrium

Thebesian veins arise in the myocardium and drain into all chambers of the heart but primarily into the right atria and ventricle

Question 9

How does the sympathetic nervous system influence the heart?

Answer 9

release of epinephrine and norepinephrine and sympathetic nerves stimulate the chambers of the heart to beat faster (chronotropic effect) and with greater force of contraction (inotropic effect)

Question 10

How does the parasympathetic nervous system influence the heart?

Answer 10

acetylcholine release from the vagus nerve which urges the heart to beat slower (chronotropic) primarily through their influence on the SA node

Question 11

What are the 4 main components of blood? What does each do?

Answer 11

Plasma- liquid component of blood in which cells are suspended. consists of water, electrolytes, and proteins and accounts for over half of blood volume. Important role in blood pressure and temperature regulation

Red Blood Cells: (erythrocytes) make up approx. 40% of blood volume and contain hemoglobin which allows blood to carry oxygen and gives it its color.

Blood Platelets: assist with blood clotting by forming a plug at a bleeding site to seal the blood vessel

White blood cells: protect against infection

Question 12

What are the risks of having too high or too low of red blood count?

Answer 12

Too High (polycythemia) makes blood very thick and increases chance of stroke

Too low (anemia) means the blood carries less oxygen and results in fatigue and weakness

Question 13

What are the risks of having too high or too low number of platelets in the blood?

Answer 13

Too high (thrombocythemia) increases the risk of thombosis and may result in heart attack or stroke

Too low (thrombocytopenia) increases the risk of bruising and abnormal bleeding

Question 14

What is the risk of having too low of white blood cells in the blood?

What would an abnormally high number of white blood cells in the body possibly indicate?

Answer 14

a low WBC count (leukopenia) increases the risk of infection

An abnormally high WBC count (leukocytosis) can indicate an infection or leaukemia

Question 15

What are the 5 main types of white blood cells and what does each do?

Answer 15

Neutrophils- help protect the body against infections by ingesting bacteria and debris

Lymphocytes: consists of 3 main types. T lymphocyts and natural killer cells help protect against viral infections and can detect and destroy some cancer cells while B lymphocytes develop into cells that produce antibodies

Monocytes: ingest dead or damaged cells and help defend against infectious organisms

Eosinophils: kill parasites, destroy cancer cells and are involved in allergic response

Basophils: participite in allergic response

Question 16

What are the three components of the thorax?

Answer 16

Sternum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae

Question 17

How many true rib pairs and false rib pairs are there?

How many floating ribs?

Answer 17

True: 7 (1 through 7)

False: 3 (8 through 10)

Floating: 2 (11 and 12)

Question 18

What are the muscle of inspiration?

Answer 18

Primary: Diaphragm and external intercostals

Accessory (in times of heavy inspiration): SCM, scalenes, pec major (sternocostal portion), pec minor and serratus anterior

Question 19

What are the muscles of exhalation?

Answer 19

normally exhalation is passive by relaxing the intercostal muscles but during forced exhalation the rectus abdominis, external and internal obliques and transverse abdominis contract to depress the ribs and compress the abdominal contents

Question 20

What is the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 20

includes the nasal cavity, pharynx (naso, oro, and laryngopharynx), and larynx which all help to humidify, cool or warm inspired air, and filter foreign material before it can reach the alveoli

Question 21

What is the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 21

extends from the larynx to the alveoli in the lungs, there are approximately 23 divisions between the larynx and the alveoli

Question 22

Where does the trachea begin and where does it end?

Answer 22

begins at the end of the larynx (base of the neck) and ends at the carina (at T4 spinal level) where it divides into the right and left main bronchi

Question 23

What does the left lung have the is analogous to the right lung’s middle lobe?

Answer 23

the lingula

Question 24

How many bronchopulmonary segments are in the right lung?

Name Each segment.

Answer 24

10

Superior lobe: Apical, anterior and posterior segments
Middle lobe: medial and lateral segments
Lower lobe: superior, medial basal, anterior basal, lateral basal, and posterior basal

Question 25

How many bronchopulmonary segments are in the left lung?

Name Each segment.

Answer 25

8

Superior Lobe: superior division (anterior and apicoposterior) and inferior/lingular division (superior and inferior)
Inferior lobe: superior, lateral basal, posterior basal, and anteromedial basal segments

Question 26

What innervates the smooth muscle of the lungs and pulmonary blood vessels?

What provides parasympathetic innervation to these structures?

Answer 26

postganglionic sympathetic fibers

Vagus nerve