Clinically relevant anatomy of the heart

Question 1

What is the medical name for the root of the lung?

Answer 1

Hilum

Question 2

What is contained in the hilum of the lung?

Answer 2

Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary veins
Main bronchus
Pulmonary lymphatic vessels and bronchopulmonary lymph nodes
Pulmonary visceral affronts and autonomic motor nerves

Question 3

Where does the phrenic nerve pass in relation to the hilum?

Answer 3

Anterior to the lung hilum

Question 4

Where does the vagus nerve pass in relation to the hilum?

Answer 4

Posterior to the lung hilum

Question 5

What are the 2 main layers of the pericardial sac?

Answer 5

Fibrous pericardium - Outermost layer
Serous pericardium - Innermost layer

Question 6

What are the 2 layers of the serous pericardium?

Answer 6

Visceral serous pericardium - Lines heart
Parietal serous pericardium - Lines inside of fibrous pericardium

Question 7

What is contained in the pericardial sac?

Answer 7

Pericardial fluid

Question 8

What is meant by cardiac tamponade?

Answer 8

A build up of fluid in the pericardial sac, increasing pressure and thus preventing cardiac contraction

Question 9

What is meant by haemopericardium?

Answer 9

Filling of the pericardium with blood

Question 10

What is involved in a pericardiocentesis?

Answer 10

Drainage of fluid from the pericardial cavity

Question 11

How would you perform a pericardiocentesis?

Answer 11

Insertion of a needle at the infrasternal angle, which is then directed superoposteriorly, aspirating continuously

Question 12

What is the transverse pericardial sinus?

Answer 12

A space within the pericardial cavity
It lies posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk, and anterior to the superior vena cava

Question 13

What are the 3 surfaces of the heart?

Answer 13

Anterior (Sternocostal) surface
Base (Posterior) surface
Inferior (Diaphragmatic) surface

Question 14

What are the 4 borders of the heart?

Answer 14

Right lateral border
Left lateral border
Inferior border
Superior border

Question 15

What is cardiomegaly?

Answer 15

Enlargement of the heart

Question 16

Where can the apex of the heart be palpated?

Answer 16

At the midclavicular line of the 5th left intercostal space

Question 17

What will happen to the cardiac apex in cardiomegaly?

Answer 17

The apex beat will often shift to the left

Question 18

Which 2 veins drain into the Superior vena cava?

Answer 18

Right Brachiocephalic vein
Left Brachiocephalic vein

Question 19

What 2 veins drain into the right brachiocephalic vein?

Answer 19

Right Subclavian Vein
Right Internal Jugular Vein

Question 20

Where is the right venous angle found?

Answer 20

Between the right internal jugular vein and the right brachiocephalic vein

Question 21

What are the 3 main regions of the aorta?

Answer 21

Ascending aorta
Arch of the aorta
Descending aorta

Question 22

What are the 2 regions of the descending aorta?

Answer 22

Thoracic aorta
Abdominal aorta

Question 23

What are the first 2 branches of the aorta?

Answer 23

left and right coronary arteries from the aortic sinuses

Question 24

What are the 3 branches of the arch of the aorta?

Answer 24

Right brachiocephalic trunk
Left common carotid artery
Left subclavian artery

Question 25

What are the 2 branches of the brachiocephalic trunk?

Answer 25

Right common carotid artery Right subclavian artery

Question 26

What are auricles?

Answer 26

Extensions of the left and right atria that allow for maximal filling

Question 27

What is marked by the anterior interventricular groove?

Answer 27

The boundary between the 2 ventricles on the anterior surface

Question 28

What is marked by the coronary groove?

Answer 28

The surface marking for the tricuspid valve and the boundary between the right atrium and right ventricle on the anterior surface

Question 29

What coronary artery branch is found in the anterior inter-ventricular groove?

Answer 29

The Left Anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery

Question 30

Which artery is found in the coronary groove?

Answer 30

Right coronary artery

Question 31

Which vein drains into the Superior vena cava after the joining of the right and left BC?

Answer 31

Azygous vein

Question 32

What is marked by the posterior inter-ventricular groove?

Answer 32

The boundary between the 2 ventricles on the diaphragmatic surface of the heart

Question 33

What vessels travel in the posterior inter-ventricular groove?

Answer 33

Posterior inter-ventricular artery Posterior inter-ventricular vein

Question 34

What is marked by the inter arterial groove?

Answer 34

The boundary between the 2 atria on the posterior of the heart

Question 35

What is the function of the coronary sinus?

Answer 35

It drains deoxygenated blood from the myocardium and into the right atrium

Question 36

What does the coronary sinus mark the boundary of?

Answer 36

The base or diaphragmatic surfaces of the heart

Question 37

What are the 4 branches of the right coronary artery that we should know?

Answer 37

Right marginal artery - supplies right margin Posterior inter ventricular artery Atrioventricular nodal artery Sino-Atrial nodal artery

Question 38

What are the 4 branches of the left coronary artery that we should know?

Answer 38

Circumflex artery - Anastomoses with posterior inter-ventricular artery Left Anterior Descending artery Left Marginal artery Lateral (Diagonal) branch

Question 39

What layer are the coronary arteries found?

Answer 39

Just deep in the epicardium, embedded in adipose tissue

Question 40

What name is given to the part of the septum between the 2 atria?

Answer 40

Interatrial septum

Question 41

What name is given to the part of the septum between the 2 ventricles?

Answer 41

Interventricular septum

Question 42

What is an atrial septal defect?

Answer 42

A hole in the interarterial septum

Question 43

What is a ventricular septal defect?

Answer 43

A hole in the inter-ventricular septum

Question 44

What is meant by hypoxaemia?

Answer 44

Lower than normal arterial blood oxygen levels

Question 45

What are the risks associated with a septal defect?

Answer 45

A 'hole' in the septum can allow mixed arterial and venous blood, therefore reducing the oxygen content of the systemic arterial blood (Hypoxaemia)

Question 46

What is the fossa ovalis?

Answer 46

A depression in the inferior aspect of the right atrial septum

Question 47

Which 3 vessels enter into the right atrium?

Answer 47

Superior Vena Cava Inferior Vena cava Coronary Sinus

Question 48

What are the 2 surfaces of the atria?

Answer 48

Rough - contains Trabeculae carnae Smooth

Question 49

What is the crust terminalis?

Answer 49

A muscular ridge between the smooth and rough surfaces of the right atrium

Question 50

What shape of valve is found in the semi-lunar valves?

Answer 50

Crescent shaped valves

Question 51

What shape of valve is found in the atria-ventricular valves?

Answer 51

Leaflet (Leaf-shaped) valves

Question 52

What connects the valve leaflets to the papillary muscles?

Answer 52

Chordae tendineae

Question 53

What is the function of the moderator band or septomarginal trabecular?

Answer 53

It is an extension of one of the papillary muscles The furthest papillary muscle from the valve can receive a signal late and so the valve could prolapse The moderator band provides a shortcut for the electrical signal in order to prevent this