CVS Anatomy Flashcards
What is an aortic dissection?
A tear in the wall of the aorta leading to two passages of blood. One through the lumen of the aorta and one into the wall. This can cause narrowing of the artery that restricts blood flow. It can also weaken the wall leading to an aortic aneurysm
What is an aortic aneurysm?
A dilation of the vessel to over 50% of its normal diameter. This could be due to a weakened wall such as an aortic dissection. If the aneurysm ruptures it can be deadly.
What is the superior cava made of the joining of?
The joining of the brachiocephalic veins
What are the 5 surfaces of the heart?
Anterior - right atrium Posterior - left atrium Inferior - right and left atria Right pulmonary - right atrium Left pulmonary - left ventricle
What are the sulci of the heart?
The coronary sulcus runs transversely around the heart representing the the wall between the atria and ventricles. This contains important vascular structures such as the coronary sinus.
The interventricular sulci are both anterior and posterior and represent the walls between the ventricles
What are the two pericardial sinuses
The oblique pericardial sinus is a blind ending passageway on the posterior surface of the heart
The transverse pericardial sinus is found superiority to the heart. It runs posterior to the pulmonary artery and aorta, anterior to the superior vena cava and superior to the atria.
What is the clinical relevance of the transverse pericardial sinus?
It can be used to identify the arterial vessels as the pericardial sinus separates the anterior aorta and pulmonary artery from the posterior superior vena cava. This means the arterial vessels can be identified to be tied off during coronary artery bypass grafting.
What are the auricles of the heart and what are their function?
They are muscular pouches that are attached to the atria and act to increase the surface area of the atria
What is the name of the muscular ridge that separates the two parts of the right atrium
The crista terminalis
What are the two sections of the right atrium?
Sinus venarum - derived embryologically from the sinus venosus. It is found posterior to the crista terminalis with smooth walls, this is where the sup and inf vena cavae drain into.
Atrium proper - is anterior to the crista terminalis, pectinate muscles form rough muscular walls. Derived from the primitive atria.
What anatomical feature makes the intratrial septum recognisable?
There is an oval shaped depression in the right atrial wall called the fossa ovalis. This is derived from the foremen ovale in th foetal heart.
What are the two portions of the left atrium?
The inflow portion - smooth wall derived from the pulmonary vein endothelium, receives blood from the pulmonary veins
Outflow portion - rough pectinate muscle, more anterior, contains left auricle, derived from the embryonic atrium
What muscular ridge separates the right ventricle into inflow and outflow portions?
Supra ventricular crest
What is the name of the interior surface of the inflow portion of the right ventricle and what are the 3 main features?
The wall is lined with sponge like muscular elevations called trabeculae carnae.
3 types:
Ridges - span the entire length of the ventricles
Bridges - attached to ventricle at both ends but free in middle, important conductive function
Pillars or papillary muscles - attach to the chordae tendineae and prevent valve leaflet prolapse
What is the outflow section of the right ventricle called and how does it appear?
It is called the conus arteriosus and is superior to the inflow portion. It is smooth walled and does not contain any trabeculae carneae.
