Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
Myocardial Infarction
a heart attack
Where is the heart located?
In the thoracic cavity (between the lungs in the mediastinum, above the diaphragm, behind the sternum, in front of the spine).
What is the top of the heart called?
The base
What is the bottom of the heart called?
The apex
What are the three layers of the heart?
The epicardium, myocardium and endocardium.
What is the epicardium?
The outmost layer of the heart where the coronary arteries run along.
What is the myocardium?
- 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.
What part of the heart is damaged in a heart attack?
The myocardium
What is the endocardium?
- 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.
Which layer of the heart is made up of pure muscle?
The myocardium
Which layer of the heart holds the conduction system?
The endocardium
What are the heart’s valves made out of?
The endocardium
In which layer of the heart do the coronary arteries run along?
The epicardium
What is the pericardium?
a double-walled sac that encloses the heart (like the film of a hard-boiled egg).
Pericardial fluid and its function
fluid found in the pericardium
function: minimizes friction btwn the layers of the heart as they rub against each other during heartbeats.
What is the function of the pericardium?
- Serves as support and protection
- Anchors the he
art to the diaphragm and great vessels
What are the 4 chambers of the heart?
Right atrium, Left atrium, Right ventricle, Left ventricle
Describe the Right Atrium
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)
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
Describe the Left Atrium
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)
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
Describe the Right Ventricle
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)
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
Describe the Left Ventricle
(purpose, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide concentration, color of blood)
Purpose: pump oxygenated blood to the entire body
Oxygen saturation: 60-75%
Carbon dioxide concentration: minimal
Blood color: dark maroon
What is the heart’s major pumping chamber?
The left ventricle
Septum
a muscular band of tissues that divide the heart into right and left sides. there are sections:
- interatrial septum
-interventricular septum
Interatrial septum
the septum dividing the atria
Interventricular septum
the septum dividing the ventricles
What is the purpose of the heart valves?
The purpose is to prevent backflow of blood
What are the two types of heart valves?
semilunar valves and atrioventricular valves
Semilunar Valves (shape, purpose and names)
- three half-moon-shaped cusps
- separate a ventricle from an artery
- pulmonary valve and aortic valve
Atrioventricular (AV) Valves (shape, purpose and names)
- 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
Pulmonic Valve
a semilunar valve located btwn the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
Aortic Valve
a semilunar valve located btwn the left ventricle and the aorta.
Tricuspid Valve
an AV valve located btwn the right atrium and right ventricle
- has 3 cusps
Mitral Valve
(aka bicuspid valve)
an AV valve located btwn the left atrium and the left ventricle
- has 2 cusps
How do the heart valves open and close?
valves open and close based on changes in pressure in the direction of blood flow
What are the 5 great vessels?
- Superior vena cava (SVC)
- Inferior vena cava (IVC)
- Pulmonary artery
- Pulmonary veins
- Aorta
Where are the 5 great vessels attached to on the heart?
The base
Superior vena cava (SVC)
the large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the head, neck, and upper chest and arms.
Inferior vena cava (IVC)
the large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the lower chest, abdomen, and legs.
Pulmonary artery
the large artery that takes deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs to load up on oxygen and unload carbon dioxide.
Pulmonary artery (what is unique about it)
the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.
Pulmonary
