Cardiac Anatomy Flashcards
What are the cardinal symptoms of Cardiac Dysfunction?
- Fatigue
- Activity limitation/exercise intolerance
- Congestion/fluid acculumation in lungs
- dyspnea/breathing difficulty
- Edema
- SOB/dyspnea/breathlessness
How many ribs and intercostals spaces are there?
- 12 ribs
- 11 intercostal spaces
- numbered according to the rib forming the superior border
what is the sternal angle?
“angle of Louis”
anterior angle formed by the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum
the sternal angle is a surface landmark for ______
the bifurcation of the trachea into the R and L main stem bronchi
the sternal angle is also a landmark for what vascular structures?
- Aortic arch
- starts and ends (dorsally) at the ange
- descending aorta begins at this level (dorsally)
What vascular and neural structures can be found just below the sternal angle?
- Pulmonary trunk divides into 2 pulmonary arteries
- Cardiac plexus is situated here (just below the aortic arch)
Which ribs are True/False ribs?
- True ribs = 1-7
- False ribs = 8, 9, 10
- False floating ribs = 11, 12
T/F: all thoracic organs are found within the mediastumn
FALSE
the lungs sit on either side
T/F: the contents of the mediastumn are mobile
TRUE
the heart contracts and relaxes-moves a great deal
how can standing/sitting position alter the contents of the mediastiumn?
- Supine
- contents move superiorly secondary to abdominal viscera pushing medistinal contents superiorly
- Standing
- gravity pulls the mediastinal contents downward
- contents can be shifted by air trapped in pleural space or following removal of a lung
describe the position of the heart
It lies obliquely in the middle of the mediastinum
- 2/3rds located to the L of the sternum
- points slightly anteriorly
- extends from 2nd to 5th intercostal space
what structures make up the R border of the heart?
- IVC
- right atrium
- SVC
what structures make up the L border of the heart?
- left ventricle
- left atrium
- pulmonary trunk
- arch of aorta
what structures make up the superior border of the heart?
- right and left atrium
- SVC
- ascending aorta
- pulmonary trunk
what structures make up the inferior border of the heart?
- right ventricle