Heart Flashcards
What is the double-layered sac that surrounds the heart?
The pericardium
The pericardium has an outer parietal layer and an inner visceral layer, with a pericardial space lined with a serous membrane that secretes serous fluid.
What are the three layers of the heart?
Epicardium, myocardium, endocardium
The epicardium is the outer layer, the myocardium is the middle layer containing cardiac muscle, and the endocardium is the inner layer continuous with the endothelium.
How many chambers does the heart have?
Four
The heart has two superior chambers called atria and two inferior chambers called ventricles.
What is the function of the right atrium?
Receives oxygen-depleted blood from the superior and inferior vena cava and pumps it to the right ventricle.
The right atrium is part of the first pump of the heart.
What is the function of the left ventricle?
Receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it to vessels leading to every part of the body.
The left ventricle is part of the second pump of the heart.
What do atrial walls contain?
Atrial walls contain pectinate muscles.
Pectinate muscles are muscular ridges located in the walls of the atria.
What do ventricular walls contain?
Ventricular walls contain trabeculae carneae.
Trabeculae carneae are irregular muscular columns located in the walls of the ventricles.
Right Ventricle
Receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the pulmonary trunk, which divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries leading to their respective lungs.
Example sentence: The right ventricle is responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
Left Atrium
Receives oxygen-rich blood from the right and left pulmonary veins and pumps it to the left ventricle.
Example sentence: The left atrium receives blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle.
First Pump
The right atria and the right ventricle are the first pump.
Example sentence: The right side of the heart serves as the first pump in the circulatory system.
