Cardiac Anatomy Flashcards
What structure occupies the central portion of the heart and is wedged between all 3 other valves?
Aortic valve
Which AV cusp has fibrous continuity with the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve
Non-coronary cusp
Anatomic orientation of the AV groove
Obliquely oriented closer to vertical than horizontal
Two pericardial recesses
- Transverse sinus
- Anterior boarder: posterior surface of aorta/PA
- Posterior boarder: interatrial groove
- Oblique sinus
- Behind LA (between IVC and Pulmonary veins)
Location of phrenic nerve in mediastinum
- Descends anterior to the anterior scalene muscle (posterior to IMA)
- Passes anterior to the pulmonary hilum
- Left phrenic: attached to the lateral aspect of persistent Left SVC
- Right phrneic: attached to the lateral aspect of SVC
Anatomy of vagus nerve in mediastinum
- Courses along carotid arteries and enters thorax posterior to phrenic.
- Descends posterior to pulmonary hilum (phrenic is anterior)
- Left vagus: descends btw LCCA and LSCA (posterior to Ao Arch), left RLN hooks anterior around ligamentum arteriosum and ascends in TE groove.
- Right vagus: right RLN hooks under RSCA artery anteriorly and ascends in the TE groove
Coronary arteries arise from what structures
Sinuses of Valsalva
Coronary artery dominance defined by what?
Supply of PDA
(RCA 85% of cases)
Anatomy of Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA)
- Arises from left Sinus of Valsalva
- Courses behind PA and anterior to LA appendage
- Bifurcates into: LAD and LCx
- Trifurcates: LAD, Ramus and OM
Anatomy of LAD
- Courses along interventricular groove towards cardiac apex
- Branches:
- Septal perforators (dive perpendicularly into septum)
- Diagonals (course over LV anterior wall)
- RV branches (course to the RV anterior wall)
Anatomy of Circumflex Coronary Artery
- Travels in left AV groove (ends near obtuse margin of LV)
- In Left Dominant circulation, continues in AV groove to supply PDA (10-15%)
- Branches:
- Obtuse marginals (OM): supply lateral wall of LV and posteromedial PM
- Sinoatrial (SA) node branch: 50% of population
Anatomy of RCA
- Arises from right Sinus of Valsalva
- Course: anterior to Ao and descends in right AV groove
- Branches:
- Conal branch: 1st branch, courses left of infundibulum
- Acute marginals: supply anterior RV free wall
- May continue across diaphragmatic surface to supply distal interventricular septum (10-15% pop)
- Bifucates:
- Posterior Descending Artery (PDA)
- Right posterolateral artery (a.k.a. posterolateral ventricular branch [PLVB])
Anatomy of PDA
- Courses along interventricular groove towards apex
- Septal perforators (posteror 1/3 of septum)
Anatomy of PLVB
Provides branches to posterior wall of LV
Venous drainage of heart
- Coronary sinus: 85% of coronary blood flow
- Thebesian veins: 15% of coronary blood flow (directly into RA/RV)
- Anterior interventricular vein: analog to LAD
- Great cardiac vein: travels in AV groove and turns into coronary sinus
- Posterior interventricular vein: analog to PDA
- Last tributary and drains near the coronary sinus orifice
- Explains why RV protection from retrograde cardioplegia can be marginal as cannula is usually inserted beyond entry point of vein.
- Last tributary and drains near the coronary sinus orifice
- Anterior RV veins: form small cardiac vein (right AV groove); drain into CS or RA
Anatomy of Persistent Left SVC
- Usually drains into coronary sinus
- Ineffective to adminster retrograde cardioplegia unless LSVC is occluded and flow diverted.