Gross Anatomy of The Heart Flashcards
What is the primary function of the heart?
To collect deoxygenated blood, carry it to the lungs for oxygenation, and distribute oxygenated blood to the body.
How much blood does the heart pump in a day?
Around 7,200 litres.
Where is the heart located?
At the centre of the chest, slightly towards the left.
How many times does the heart beat on average in a day?
About 100,000 times.
What is the average heart rate for adults?
60 to 80 beats per minute.
What is the heart rate range for newborn babies?
70 to 190 beats per minute.
What is the anatomical position of the apex of the heart?
Located at the level of the 5th left intercostal space, about 9 cm from the midline.
What forms the base of the heart?
Primarily by the left atrium (two-thirds) and the right atrium (one-third).
What are the three layers of the heart wall?
- Epicardium * Myocardium * Endocardium
How is the heart divided anatomically?
Into right and left halves, each subdivided into an atrium and a ventricle.
What are the four chambers of the heart?
- Right atrium * Left atrium * Right ventricle * Left ventricle
What is the function of the heart valves?
To maintain unidirectional flow of blood and prevent regurgitation.
What are the two pairs of heart valves?
- Atrioventricular valves * Semilunar valves
Which coronary artery carries 80% of the blood flow to the heart muscle?
Left main coronary artery.
What is the primary function of the sinoatrial node?
To act as the heart’s natural pacemaker.
What is the role of the atrioventricular node?
To slow the electrical current before it passes to the ventricles.
What separates the right and left ventricles on the diaphragmatic surface?
The posterior interventricular groove.
What is the clinical significance of the apex of the heart?
It can be palpated during a physical examination as the point of maximal impulse (PMI).
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system in relation to the heart?
It controls the firing of the sinoatrial node to regulate heart rate.
Fill in the blank: The heart is enclosed within the _______.
[pericardium]
True or False: The left atrium is visible from the sternocostal surface.
False.
What major vessels are attached to the base of the heart?
- Superior vena cava * Ascending aorta * Pulmonary trunk
What is the role of the coronary sinus?
To collect most coronary veins and drain into the right atrium.
What separates the base of the heart from the vertebral column?
- Oblique pericardial sinus * Esophagus * Aorta