Cardiovascular system - Weeks 3&4 Flashcards
(lateral view of mediastinum) A horizontal plane drawn between which two bone structures separates the mediastinum into superior and inferior parts?
between sternal angle of sternum and T4/T5 vertebrae
what can the lower/inferior mediastinum be further divided into?
anterior, middle and posterior
name the structures found in the superior mediastinum
oesophagus, trachea, aortic arch, superior vena cava, L/R phrenic nerves, L/R vagus nerves, thoracic duct, sympathetic chains
name the structures found in the anterior (front) section of the inferior mediastinum?
thymus and fat
name the structures found in the middle part of the inferior mediastinum
heart, L/R phrenic and vagus nerves, cardiac plexus
name the structures found in the posterior part of the inferior mediastinum
descending aorta, oesophagus, thoracic duct, azygos vein, sympathetic chain
what does the azygous system of veins drain?
the posterior thoracic wall
what is the name of the structure which returns lymph to the venous system?
thoracic duct
what are the roots of the phrenic nerve? (…. ….. ….. , keep….. alive)
C3,4,5
(lateral view of torso) Which nerves lie anterior to the root of the lung?
which lie posterior?
anterior = phrenic
posterior = vagus
what is the name of the sac which lies around the heart?
pericardium
name the 2 layers of the pericardium - outer and inner
outer = fibrous pericardium
inner = serous pericardium
the inner serous pericardium has 2 layers, name them (inner and outer)
inner serous = visceral/epicardium (external layer of the heart)
outer serous = parietal
going from outermost to innermost, name the layers of the pericardium
fibrous pericardium, parietal serous pericardium, visceral serous pericardium (epicardium)
which layer of the pericardium is just the external surface of the heart?
epicardium (inner serous layer)
name the 4 functions of the pericardium
protection from infection
fixes heart in mediastinum
lubrication
prevents heart overfilling and thus increasing in size
what is the function of the fluid which fills the pericardial cavity? which two layers of pericardium does cavity form between?
reduce friction when heart is contracting
forms between the inner and outer serous (epicardium and parietal)
which structures does the pericardium fix the heart to in the mediastinum?
tunica adventitia of blood vessel walls, diaphragm, sternum
in cardiac tamponade where does fluid accumulate?
in the pericardium
cardiac tamponade can result from what?
heart surgery, bacterial/viral infection, trauma, heart attack
in cardiac tamponade, what fills up the pericardium, compressing the heart? (2 things)
blood or fluid
what does fluid/blood build up in the pericardium prevent in cardiac tamponade, which in turn causes a build up of pressure in the heart?
prevents ventricles from expanding fully, impeding blood supply
define pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardium
name the procedure done to remove fluid that has built up in the pericardium in cardiac tamponade?
pericardiocentesis