External Structure Of The Heart Flashcards
How large is the human heart?
About the size of a closed fist
What is the human heart?
A hollow, pear-shaped muscular organ
What do the walls of the heart consist of?
Cardiac muscle
Where is the heart situated?
In the thoracic cavity
Where is the thoracic cavity situated?
Above the diaphragm and between the lungs
What protects the heart?
The ribs and the sternum
What is the orientation of the heart?
The upper end is wider than the lower end
The lower end points downwards and to the left
How is the heart kept in position?
By the large blood vessels that enter and leave it
What is the pericardium?
The double-walled membrane which encloses the heart
What is the lower end of the heart called?
The apex
What prevents friction between the walls of the heart an surrounding organs?
Pericardial fluid
What is pericardial fluid?
A watery fluid that occurs between the two membranes
Which blood vessels are visible on the outside of the heart?
The coronary blood vessels
What do the coronary blood vessels do?
Transport blood to and from the cardiac muscle
