Anatomy of the Heart Flashcards
What is the shape and function of the heart?
The heart is cone-shaped and functions as a muscular pump.
Where is the heart located?
The heart is located in the mediastinum, protected by the ribs and sternum, between ribs 2-5, to the left of the midline.
Where does the apex of the heart lie?
The apex lies in the 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line.
What are percussion and auscultation used for in relation to the heart?
Percussion (tapping) and auscultation (listening) are used to examine heart sounds, including the apex beat.
What is the pericardium?
The pericardium is the sac that covers the heart, made up of an outer fibrous layer and an inner serous pericardium.
What is the fibrous pericardium?
The fibrous pericardium is the inelastic, strong outer layer made of dense connective tissue, anchoring the heart and preventing overfilling.
What is the serous pericardium?
The serous pericardium is a double-layered membrane, with the parietal layer lining the fibrous pericardium and the visceral layer (epicardium) adhering to the heart surface.
What is the pericardial cavity?
The space between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium, containing fluid to reduce friction during heartbeats.
What is pericarditis?
Inflammation of the lining around the heart (pericardium).
What is cardiac tamponade?
Compression of the heart due to excess fluid in the pericardial sac.
What are the three layers of the heart wall?
Endocardium (inner layer), Myocardium (middle muscular layer), Epicardium (outer layer, visceral serous pericardium).
What is the clinical relevance of the heart wall layers?
Endocarditis is inflammation of the endocardium, and myocardial infarction (heart attack) occurs when blood supply to the heart is blocked.
Why is the left ventricular wall thicker than the right?
The left ventricle pumps blood to the entire body, requiring higher pressure than the right ventricle.
What is the fibrous skeleton of the heart?
Connective tissue bands between the atria and ventricles that electrically separate them and support the heart valves.
What is the function of the atrioventricular (AV) valves?
To prevent backflow of blood: Tricuspid (right) and Mitral/Bicuspid (left) AV valves.
What are the semilunar valves?
Valves located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery (pulmonary valve) and between the left ventricle and aorta (aortic valve).
What is valve stenosis?
Narrowing of a heart valve, which restricts blood flow.
What is valve regurgitation?
A condition where heart valves do not close properly, causing backward blood flow.
What are the chordae tendineae?
Heart strings that connect the heart valves to the papillary muscles, preventing valve inversion.
Describe the flow of deoxygenated blood through the heart.
Deoxygenated blood enters through the vena cava, flows through the right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, and pulmonary valve, then to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries.
Describe the flow of oxygenated blood through the heart.
Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs via the pulmonary veins, flows through the left atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, and aortic valve into the aorta and systemic circulation.
What is coronary circulation?
Blood flow to the heart muscle, supplied by the left and right coronary arteries.
What does the left coronary artery (LCA) supply?
The LCA supplies blood to the left side of the heart, including the left atrium and ventricle.
What does the right coronary artery (RCA) supply?
The RCA supplies the right ventricle, atria, and nodes responsible for heart conduction.
