Anatomy of the Heart 1

Question 1

What are the three layers of blood vessels?

Answer 1

1. Tunica intima (endothelium)
2. Tunica media (smooth muscle)
3. Tunica externa (connective tissue)

Question 2

What does a capillary sphincter do?

Answer 2

Controls the flow of blood into capillary bed

Question 3

Why are big arteries elastic?

Answer 3

Maintain blood pressure within them

Question 4

What are sentinel lymph nodes?

Answer 4

The first few lymph nodes to which a tumor drains etc

Question 5

Describe the wall of the right atrium.

Answer 5

Anterior wall - roughened, crista terminalis

Posterior wall - smooth, sinus venarum

Question 6

What is the fossa ovalis?

Answer 6

Embryological remnant

‘window’ into LA

Question 7

What is the shape of the Right Ventricle?

Answer 7

Crescent shaped

Question 8

Describe the features of the right ventricle.

Answer 8

Trabeculae carneae (‘meaty ridges’), infundibulum (smooth wall), membranous portion of interventricular septum, chordae tendinae and papillary muscles

Question 9

Describe the wall of the left atrium

Answer 9

Smooth except at auricle

Question 10

How many pulmonary veins are there entering the left atrium?

Answer 10

4 - 2 from the left, 2 from the right

Question 11

How does the LV infundibulum differ to the RV?

Answer 11

It is less pronounced

Question 12

What are the two types of common heart valve defects?

Answer 12

1. Stenotic valve
2. Mitral valve prolapse
   Both cause regurgitation of blood back into the atria

Question 13

Which valve is most susceptible to defects and why?

Answer 13

Mitral valve

Due to higher pressure in left heart

Question 14

How does foetal circulation differ to adult circulation?

Answer 14

1. Foramen ovale
2. Ductus arteriosus
   If they fail to close –> patency

Question 15

What is the coronary sinus?

Answer 15

Rudimentary/ non functioning valve

Major vein that drains the heart itself

Question 16

Which muscle fibres arise from the crista terminalis?

Answer 16

Musculi pectinati

Question 17

What is the most common ‘hole in the heart’?

Answer 17

Ventricular septal defect

Question 18

Where are the pectinate muscles of the heart found?

Answer 18

Atria

Question 19

Where are the trabeculae carneae found?

Answer 19

Ventricles

Question 20

Describe the wall of the left atrium

Answer 20

Smooth walled except the auricle which has a roughened wall

Question 21

What is the function of the chordae tendinae?

Answer 21

Connect the papillary muscles to the valves (mitral or tricuspid)

Question 22

What is the function of the papillary muscles?

Answer 22

Prevent inversion/prolapse of the IV valves during systole

Question 23

How many pulmonary veins are there?

Answer 23

4 - 2 from R, 2 from L

Going into left atrium

Question 24

Describe the infundibulum of the left atrium.

Answer 24

Less pronounced

Question 25

Which valve is more likely to suffer a defect?

Answer 25

Mitral valve - under higher pressure

Question 26

Why is there no requirement for a pulmonary circulation in the fetus?

Answer 26

The fetus is getting oxygen from the mother via the placenta

Question 27

What causes the foramen ovale to close at birth?

Answer 27

Changes in pressure (left becomes higher pressure)