Clinically relevant anatomy of the heart Flashcards
What is the medical name for the root of the lung?
Hilum
What is contained in the hilum of the lung?
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary veins
Main bronchus
Pulmonary lymphatic vessels and bronchopulmonary lymph nodes
Pulmonary visceral affronts and autonomic motor nerves
Where does the phrenic nerve pass in relation to the hilum?
Anterior to the lung hilum
Where does the vagus nerve pass in relation to the hilum?
Posterior to the lung hilum
What are the 2 main layers of the pericardial sac?
Fibrous pericardium - Outermost layer
Serous pericardium - Innermost layer
What are the 2 layers of the serous pericardium?
Visceral serous pericardium - Lines heart
Parietal serous pericardium - Lines inside of fibrous pericardium
What is contained in the pericardial sac?
Pericardial fluid
What is meant by cardiac tamponade?
A build up of fluid in the pericardial sac, increasing pressure and thus preventing cardiac contraction
What is meant by haemopericardium?
Filling of the pericardium with blood
What is involved in a pericardiocentesis?
Drainage of fluid from the pericardial cavity
How would you perform a pericardiocentesis?
Insertion of a needle at the infrasternal angle, which is then directed superoposteriorly, aspirating continuously
What is the transverse pericardial sinus?
A space within the pericardial cavity
It lies posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk, and anterior to the superior vena cava
What are the 3 surfaces of the heart?
Anterior (Sternocostal) surface
Base (Posterior) surface
Inferior (Diaphragmatic) surface
What are the 4 borders of the heart?
Right lateral border
Left lateral border
Inferior border
Superior border
What is cardiomegaly?
Enlargement of the heart
Where can the apex of the heart be palpated?
At the midclavicular line of the 5th left intercostal space
What will happen to the cardiac apex in cardiomegaly?
The apex beat will often shift to the left
Which 2 veins drain into the Superior vena cava?
Right Brachiocephalic vein
Left Brachiocephalic vein
What 2 veins drain into the right brachiocephalic vein?
Right Subclavian Vein
Right Internal Jugular Vein
Where is the right venous angle found?
Between the right internal jugular vein and the right brachiocephalic vein
What are the 3 main regions of the aorta?
Ascending aorta
Arch of the aorta
Descending aorta
What are the 2 regions of the descending aorta?
Thoracic aorta
Abdominal aorta
What are the first 2 branches of the aorta?
left and right coronary arteries from the aortic sinuses
What are the 3 branches of the arch of the aorta?
Right brachiocephalic trunk
Left common carotid artery
Left subclavian artery
What are the 2 branches of the brachiocephalic trunk?
Right common carotid artery
Right subclavian artery
What are auricles?
Extensions of the left and right atria that allow for maximal filling
What is marked by the anterior interventricular groove?
The boundary between the 2 ventricles on the anterior surface
What is marked by the coronary groove?
The surface marking for the tricuspid valve and the boundary between the right atrium and right ventricle on the anterior surface
What coronary artery branch is found in the anterior inter-ventricular groove?
The Left Anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery
Which artery is found in the coronary groove?
Right coronary artery
Which vein drains into the Superior vena cava after the joining of the right and left BC?
Azygous vein
What is marked by the posterior inter-ventricular groove?
The boundary between the 2 ventricles on the diaphragmatic surface of the heart
What vessels travel in the posterior inter-ventricular groove?
Posterior inter-ventricular artery
Posterior inter-ventricular vein
What is marked by the inter arterial groove?
The boundary between the 2 atria on the posterior of the heart
What is the function of the coronary sinus?
It drains deoxygenated blood from the myocardium and into the right atrium
What does the coronary sinus mark the boundary of?
The base or diaphragmatic surfaces of the heart
What are the 4 branches of the right coronary artery that we should know?
Right marginal artery - supplies right margin
Posterior inter ventricular artery
Atrioventricular nodal artery
Sino-Atrial nodal artery
What are the 4 branches of the left coronary artery that we should know?
Circumflex artery - Anastomoses with posterior inter-ventricular artery
Left Anterior Descending artery
Left Marginal artery
Lateral (Diagonal) branch
What layer are the coronary arteries found?
Just deep in the epicardium, embedded in adipose tissue
What name is given to the part of the septum between the 2 atria?
Interatrial septum
What name is given to the part of the septum between the 2 ventricles?
Interventricular septum
What is an atrial septal defect?
A hole in the interarterial septum
What is a ventricular septal defect?
A hole in the inter-ventricular septum
What is meant by hypoxaemia?
Lower than normal arterial blood oxygen levels
What are the risks associated with a septal defect?
A ‘hole’ in the septum can allow mixed arterial and venous blood, therefore reducing the oxygen content of the systemic arterial blood (Hypoxaemia)
What is the fossa ovalis?
A depression in the inferior aspect of the right atrial septum
Which 3 vessels enter into the right atrium?
Superior Vena Cava
Inferior Vena cava
Coronary Sinus
What are the 2 surfaces of the atria?
Rough - contains Trabeculae carnae
Smooth
What is the crista terminalis?
A muscular ridge between the smooth and rough surfaces of the right atrium
What shape of valve is found in the semi-lunar valves?
Crescent shaped valves
What shape of valve is found in the atria-ventricular valves?
Leaflet (Leaf-shaped) valves
What connects the valve leaflets to the papillary muscles?
Chordae tendineae
What is the function of the moderator band or septomarginal trabecular?
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
