Anatomy of CVS Flashcards
Where is the heart located?
Middle mediastinum
Where are blood vessels NOT located?
Cartilage
Where are lymphatics NOT located?
Brain
Eyes
What are the two main circulations of the CVS?
Pulmonary (heart - lungs - heart)
Systemic (heart - body - heart)
What is an additional circulation?
Hepatic portal circulation
What are the anterior relations of the heart?
Sternum
Costal cartilages 4 - 7
Anterior edges of lungs and pleurae
Thymic remnants
Posterior relations of heart
Oesophagus
Descending aorta
Thoracic vertebrae 5 - 8
Lateral relations of heart
Lungs
Phrenic nerve
Inferior relations of heart
Central tendon of diaphragm
What is the sternal angle?
T4
Layers of the heart
Endocardium (innermost)
Myocardium (Middle)
Epicardium (outermost)
Pericardial cavity
Histology of endocardium
Simple squamous
Single layer
Bit of connective tissue
Histology of myocardium
Cardiac muscle
Intercalated discs, branching fibres
Histology of epicardium
Simple squamous
One layer thick
Connective tissue underneath
What is the pericardial cavity filled with?
Fluid
What lines the heart chambers?
Endocardium
What forms valves?
Endocardium (due to projections)
What cells make up cardiac muscle?
Myocytes
What are myocytes connected by?
Intercalated discs
What are intercalated discs?
Complex junctions that connect myocytes
What do desmosomes do?
Connect at horizontal interface and bind myocytes together