Cardiac Physiology Flashcards
Where is the heart located?
6
Near the anterior chest wall
Directly posterior to the sternum
Slightly left of the midline
Projects inferiorly and slightly anteriorly
Projects to the left
Posterior to the sternum
How many times does the heart beat a day?
100,000 times a day
How many chambers does the heart have?
Four
How big is the heart?
Size of a clenched fist
How many litres of blood does the heart pump a day?
8,000 L a day
Name the four chambers of the heart.
Right atrium
Right ventricle
Left atrium
Left ventricle
What does the right atrium do?
Collects blood from the systemic circuit (deoxygenated blood from the body)
What does the right ventricle do?
Pumps blood to the pulmonary circuit (to lungs to be oxygenated)
What does the left atrium do?
Collects blood from the pulmonary circuit (oxygenated blood)
What does the left ventricle do?
Pumps blood to the systemic circuit
How does blood flow through the heart?
7
Systemic circuit -> right atrium -> right ventricle -> pulmonary circuit -> left atrium -> left ventricle -> systemic circuit
Where are the large/great vessels connected?
To the base of the heart/the superior aspect
What are the four main great veins?
Aorta
Vena Cava
Pulmonary veins
Pulmonary artery
What happens in right heart failure?
Can’t pump blood to the lungs
What happens in left heart failure?
Cant pump blood to the body
What happens during a single heartbeat?
2
First both the atria contract
Then both the ventria contract
During a heartbeat what happens when the ventria contract?
3
During this, both ventria eject equal volumes of blood
The right ventricle pumps its blood into the pulmonary artery
The left ventricle pumps its blood into the aorta
What is the pericardium?
5
A fibrous sac that surrounds the heart
There is a small amount of fluid between the sac and the heart
Inner layer = attached to muscle wall of the heart (visceral layer/epicardium)
Fluid
Thick fibrous membrane that attaches heart to diaphragm (parietal layer)
What cavity is the heart located in?
The mediastinum cavity
Other than the heart what else is found in the mediastinum cavity?
The oesophagus and the trachea