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Human Anatomy & Physiology > Cardiac Anatomy > Flashcards

Cardiac Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

where does the heart lay inside the thoracic cavity & where does most of the heart lie?

A

Within mediastinum ► Medial cavity, b/w lungs
▪ Rests on diaphragm
▪ Approx. 2/3 lies to the left
of the midsternal line

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2
Q

where is the base of the heart located and what is its main function?

A

upper portion of the mediastinum at the R & L 2nd ICS

-attachment of large vessels

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3
Q

where is the apex located and what is it used to auscultate?

A

around ribs 5-6 on the left side
-point of maximal impulse (PMI)
AKA apical impulse

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4
Q

what is the purpose of the pericardium & what layers does it consist of?

A 
double layered covering of the heart that encloses the heart & proximal large blood vessels
1. fibrous layer
2. serous pericardium
> parietal 
> epicardium
> pericardial cavity
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5
Q

what is the purpose of the fibrous layer of the pericardium?

A
  • loosely fit layer of the pericardium (outside of heart) that anchors the heart to surrounding organs -> diaphragm, posterior sternum, large blood vessels
  • fibrous layer prevents overfilling of the heart
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6
Q

what layers make up the serous pericardium and what separates it from the fibrous pericardium?

A
  1. parietal layer which attaches to ->
  2. epicardium (visceral layer)

*separated from the fibrous pericardium by the pericardial cavity which contains serous flud

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7
Q

what is pericarditis & how does it affect the heart?

A

inflammation of the pericardium which causes rubbing when the heart contracts (pleural rub)

-results in too much fluid in pericardial cavity that ultimately inhibits filling

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8
Q

what does calcification in the pericardial cavity cause in the heart & what can it indicate ?

A

stiffness

-diastolic CHF

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9
Q

what layers make up the heart wall?

A
  1. epicardium
    - exterior surface that protects the heart
  2. myocardium
    - majority of heart muscle
  3. endocardium
    - simple squamous epithelial tissue that lines blood vessels
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10
Q

which layer of the heart wall consists of fibrous connective tissue & what is it responsible for?

A

myocardium

-contraction of the heart: pulls the fibrous muscle tissues together for the heart to pump

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11
Q

what is cardiac muscle made of & where is it thickest?

A

Connected to fibrous skeleton
► Striated collagen and elastin fibers
► Gives cardiac cells something to
pull or exert force against

► Thicker around valves, where great
vessels attached

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12
Q

what cellular structure helps the heart muscle contract in a coordinated way?

A 
intercalated discs within the striated fibers which contain: 
► Gap junctions – ions pass cell
to cell 
► Desmosomes – prevent cells
separating during contraction
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13
Q

what cells are involved in producing myocardial contraction? what regulates this within the cardiac tissue?

A

actin & myosin
-calcium-mediated interaction

Troponin I & T

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14
Q

when myocardial injury occurs, what is released into the bloodstream?

A

Troponin I & T

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15
Q

why is Troponin I & T more specific than CK-MB?

A

Troponin is specific to cardiac tissue only

-CK-MB involved skeletal muscle breakdown

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16
Q

which part of the heart is affected by an anterior wall MI?

A

mostly the right atrium

-some of the right ventricle

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17
Q

which part of the heart is affected by an inferior wall MI?

A

right atrium & right ventricle

> RCA occlusion

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18
Q

what does the anterior (sternocostal) surface of the heart consist of?

A

MAINLY Right atrium -> right border
& Right ventricle
-separated by the vertical atrioventricular groove

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19
Q

what does the inferior (diaphragmatic) surface of the heart consist of?

A

R & L ventricles separated by posterior interventricular groove
-part of inferior surface of R atrium & inferior vena cava

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20
Q

what does the posterior surface of the heart consist of?

A

base of the heart which is mainly the left atrium

-where the 4 pulmonary veins are seen

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21
Q

when looking at the lateral surface of the heart, what does it mainly consist of?

A

left ventricle

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22
Q

what part of the heart does systemic circulation return blood to?

A

inferior vena cava

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23
Q

what is the ductus arteriosis & at what stage of life is it present? what does it form when it is fully developed?

A

patent connection from the aorta to the pulmonary trunk

-> becomes the ligamentum arteriosum

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24
Q

in what state of life is the foramen ovale present and where is it located in the heart?

A

fetus
-between right atrium & left atrium
> due to fetus not requiring blood flow to the lungs (HbF from mother)

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25
Q

what happens when the foramen ovale does not close & why is it problematic?

A

patent foramen ovale (PFO)

-can cause stroke but this is rare

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26
Q

what system does the left ventricle empty into?

A

peripheral circulatory

system

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27
Q

what system does the right ventricle empty into?

A

pulmonary system

- right ventricle pumps directly to the lungs

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28
Q

which ventricle is thicker and what does it provide?

A

left ventricle -> more musculature

-> more vector & impulses

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29
Q

which circuit contains more CO2 & what is its main function?

A

pulmonary circuit
► Carries carbon dioxide rich blood to the gas exchange surfaces of lungs
► Returns oxygen rich blood
back to the heart

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30
Q

which circuit contains more O2 & what is its main function?

A 
systemic circuit
► Transports oxygen rich
blood back to body’s cells 
► Transports carbon dioxide
rich blood back to the heart
31
Q

what are valves made of & what is their purpose? what are they attached to in the heart?

A

thin leaflets made of tough/flexible endothelium-covered tissue

makes blood flow forward

-Attached to fibrous
skeleton of heart

32
Q

what valves are open during diastole?

A

tricuspid valve

mitral valve

33
Q

what valves are open during systole?

A

semilunar:

  • pulmonary valve
  • aortic valves
34
Q

what are the AV valves & what is theri function?

A

Tricuspid & Mitral Valves
▪ Prevent backflow of
blood from ventricles to atria during systole

35
Q

what happens when there is high intraventricucar pressure?

A

AV valves are closed

36
Q

what anchors the valves to the fibrous skeleton of the heart & what keeps the valves closed?

A

papillary muscles

-chordae tendonae

37
Q

what happens if the papillary muscles are ruptured?

A

there will be tricuspid valve or mitral valve regurgitation

38
Q

what valves are closed during diastole?

A

pulmonic valve

aortic valve

39
Q

if a murmur is heard during diastole, what valves are affected & what can this indicate?

A

tricuspid & mitral valves

  • tricuspid stenosis
  • mitral stenosis
40
Q

what are the semilunar valves & how many cusps do they have?

A

pulmonary & aortic valves

-3 cusps

41
Q

what is the primary function of the semilunar valves?

A

pulmonary & aortic valves prevent backflow of blood from the pulmonary trunk & aorta into R & L ventricles

42
Q

when are the semilunar valves closed?

A

ventricular diastole

43
Q

what force causes the semilunar valves to shut?

A

high pressures in the pulmonary trunk & aorta at the end of systole

44
Q

which part of the electrical conduction system is the slowest? -> 20-40 bpm

A

ventricular focci

45
Q

which part of the electrical conduction system depolarizes the fastest & why? -> 60-100 bpm

A

SA node

-pacemaker of the heart that is consistently firing

46
Q

True or false: the auto-rhythmic cardiac cells are contractile.

A

false

47
Q

what structures make up the electrical conduction system of the heart?

A

► Sinoatrial node ► Atrioventricular node ► Atrioventricular bundle ► R & L bundle branches ► Purkinje fibers

48
Q

if a pt has cardiomegaly, what might be present on the EKG?

A

LVH or RVH due to larger muscles interrupting the electrical pathway

49
Q

which part of the electrical conduction system initiates atrial systole?

A

sinoatrial node (SA node)

50
Q

the ____ nerve is responsible for 75% of parasympathetic nervous system innervation of the heart

A

vagus

51
Q

what part of the electrical conduction system correlates with the P waves on EKGs?

A

Bachman’s Bundle

52
Q

what pathway does bachman’s bundle transmit signals to?

A

Tracts from SA node extending to L atrium

53
Q

what part of the electrical conduction system transmit impulses through R atrium to AV node?

A

internodal tracts

54
Q

anxiety, surprise, caffeine, and cocaine are examples of _____ factors that affect the SA node

A

extrinsic

55
Q

where is the SA node located in the heart?

A

Located superior posterolateral wall of right atrium (just inferior to entrance of SVC)

56
Q

what part of the electrical conduction system delays signals & allows ventricles to fill during diastole?

A

AV node

57
Q

where is the AV node located in the heart?

A 
Located inferior portion of
interatrial septum (above tricuspid valve)
58
Q

True or false: if the SA node cannot function properly, the ventricular focci will take over first.

A 
False
-AV node will assume pace-making
duties if normal pace-making
fails.
► Inherent rate range is 40-60bpm
59
Q

the ___ is the only connection between the atria & ventricles in the intraventricular septum that splits into the right and left bundle branches

A

bundle of His

aka A-V bundle

60
Q

if there are PVCs present on an EKG, what part of the electrical conduction system is responsible for this?

A

ventricular focci

61
Q

the bundle of His transmits signals from the ____ to the ventricles by splitting into the left & right bundle branches.

A

AV node

62
Q

what structures make up the intrinsic conduction system and what does this correlate to on an EKG?

A

-right bundle branch
-left bundle branch
► L anterior fasciculus
► L posterior fasciculus

*QRS complex = ventricular deolarization

63
Q

the ___ is responsible for rapid

conduction through ventricles

A

intrinsic conduction system

64
Q

the _____ are able to pace at 20-40/min & extend deep into the papillary muscles -> ventricular walls

A

Purkinje fibers

65
Q

what do the Purkinje fibers branch off of?

A

left & right bundle branches

66
Q

____ repolarization is when sodium & potassium are normalizing. this represents the ___ on EKG

A

T wave

67
Q

when an EKG is isoelectric, there are flat waves & no _____ of the heart

A

contraction

68
Q

this electrolyte is ionotropic and makes the heart beat harder

A

calcium

69
Q

____ makes it harder for the heart to depolarize. what is given to treat this?

A

hyperkalemia

-calcium given

70
Q

what occurs on a cellular level to the ventricular myocytes when there is rapid repolarization?

A

► Calcium channels close ► Potassium flows rapidly out of cell

71
Q

during the plateau phase, the ___ continues to flow into the cell while the ____ begins to flow out of the cell

A
  • calcium

- potassium

72
Q

when there is a peak of action potential for the ventricular myocyte, there is an inactivation of _____ channels

A

sodium

73
Q

during the resting phase, the _____ becomes impermeable to sodium

A

cell membrane of ventricular myocytes

74
Q

when the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the heart to beat faster, the ___ appears shorter on EKG

A

PR interval

Human Anatomy & Physiology (4 decks)

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