Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology

Question 1

Myocardial Infarction

Answer 1

a heart attack

Question 2

Where is the heart located?

Answer 2

In the thoracic cavity (between the lungs in the mediastinum, above the diaphragm, behind the sternum, in front of the spine).

Question 3

What is the top of the heart called?

Answer 3

The base

Question 4

What is the bottom of the heart called?

Answer 4

The apex

Question 5

What are the three layers of the heart?

Answer 5

The epicardium, myocardium and endocardium.

Question 6

What is the epicardium?

Answer 6

The outmost layer of the heart where the coronary arteries run along.

Question 7

What is the myocardium?

Answer 7

• The middle and thickets layer of the heart.
• It is made purely of muscle and has the job of contracting.
• This is the part that is damaged during a heart attack.

Question 8

What part of the heart is damaged in a heart attack?

Answer 8

The myocardium

Question 9

What is the endocardium?

Answer 9

• The innermost and thinnest layer of the heart.
• It lines the heart’s chambers and folds back into itself to form the heart valves.
• The endocardium is watertight to prevent leakage of blood into the other layers.
• The cardia conduction system is located in this layer.

Question 10

Which layer of the heart is made up of pure muscle?

Answer 10

The myocardium

Question 11

Which layer of the heart holds the conduction system?

Answer 11

The endocardium

Question 12

What are the heart’s valves made out of?

Answer 12

The endocardium

Question 13

In which layer of the heart do the coronary arteries run along?

Answer 13

The epicardium

Question 14

What is the pericardium?

Answer 14

a double-walled sac that encloses the heart (like the film of a hard-boiled egg).

Question 15

Pericardial fluid and its function

Answer 15

fluid found in the pericardium

function: minimizes friction btwn the layers of the heart as they rub against each other during heartbeats.

Question 16

What is the function of the pericardium?

Answer 16

• Serves as support and protection
• Anchors the he
  art to the diaphragm and great vessels

Question 17

What are the 4 chambers of the heart?

Answer 17

Right atrium, Left atrium, Right ventricle, Left ventricle

Question 18

Describe the Right Atrium
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)

Answer 18

Purpose: receives deoxygenated blood from the body and sends it to the right ventricle
Oxygen saturation: 60-75%
Carbon dioxide concentration: high
Blood color: dark maroon

Question 19

Describe the Left Atrium
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)

Answer 19

Purpose: receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and sends it to the left ventricle
Oxygen saturation: approx. 100%
Carbon dioxide concentration: extremely low
Blood color: bright red

Question 20

Describe the Right Ventricle
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)

Answer 20

Purpose: receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and sends it to the lungs for fresh oxygen supply.
Oxygen saturation: 60-75%
Carbon dioxide concentration: extremely low
Blood color: dark maroon

Question 21

Describe the Left Ventricle
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)

Answer 21

Purpose: pump oxygenated blood to the entire body
Oxygen saturation: 60-75%
Carbon dioxide concentration: minimal
Blood color: dark maroon

Question 22

What is the heart’s major pumping chamber?

Answer 22

The left ventricle

Question 23

Septum

Answer 23

a muscular band of tissues that divide the heart into right and left sides. there are sections:
- interatrial septum
-interventricular septum

Question 24

Interatrial septum

Answer 24

the septum dividing the atria

Question 25

Interventricular septum

Answer 25

the septum dividing the ventricles

Question 26

What is the purpose of the heart valves?

Answer 26

The purpose is to prevent backflow of blood

Question 27

What are the two types of heart valves?

Answer 27

semilunar valves and atrioventricular valves

Question 28

Semilunar Valves (shape, purpose and names)

Answer 28

• three half-moon-shaped cusps
• separate a ventricle from an artery
• pulmonary valve and aortic valve

Question 29

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves (shape, purpose and names)

Answer 29

• sort of stretched appearance (from being anchored by tendonous cords that prevent the closed AV valves from flopping backward).
• separate an atrium and a ventricle
• tricuspid valve and mitral valve

Question 30

Pulmonic Valve

Answer 30

a semilunar valve located btwn the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Question 31

Aortic Valve

Answer 31

a semilunar valve located btwn the left ventricle and the aorta.

Question 32

Tricuspid Valve

Answer 32

an AV valve located btwn the right atrium and right ventricle
- has 3 cusps

Question 33

Mitral Valve

Answer 33

(aka bicuspid valve)
an AV valve located btwn the left atrium and the left ventricle
- has 2 cusps

Question 34

How do the heart valves open and close?

Answer 34

valves open and close based on changes in pressure in the direction of blood flow

Question 35

What are the 5 great vessels?

Answer 35

• Superior vena cava (SVC)
• Inferior vena cava (IVC)
• Pulmonary artery
• Pulmonary veins
• Aorta

Question 36

Where are the 5 great vessels attached to on the heart?

Answer 36

The base

Question 37

Superior vena cava (SVC)

Answer 37

the large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the head, neck, and upper chest and arms.

Question 38

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Answer 38

the large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the lower chest, abdomen, and legs.

Question 39

Pulmonary artery

Answer 39

the large artery that takes deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs to load up on oxygen and unload carbon dioxide.

Question 40

Pulmonary artery (what is unique about it)

Answer 40

the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.

Question 41

Pulmonary