HEART Flashcards
Pericardium
Double layered membrane that surrounds and protects the heart
Two layers of the Pericardium
Fibrous (outer)
Serous (inner)
Fibrous Pericardium
Helps protect heart and anchor it to surrounding structures such as the diaphragm and sternum
Serous Pericardium
Produces lubricating serous fluid and collects in the pericardial cavity between serous layers; allows heart to beat in a relatively frictionless environment
Serous Pericardium Layers
Parietal & Visceral Pericardium
Parietal Pericardium
Outermost layer of serous pericardium
Lines interior of fibrous pericardium
Visceral Pericardium
Innermost layer of serous pericardium
Outermost layer of heart wall
AKA Epicardium
Visceral Pericardium
Myocardium
Middle layer of heart wall
Cardiac muscle layer
Layer that contracts
Contains intercalated discs which contains gap junctions that allows ions to flow from cell to cell
Most of the myocardium is where?
Heart ventricles
Endocardium
Inner layer of heart wall
Thin, glistening sheet of endothelium that lines heart chambers
Apex
Pointed, lower tip of the heart
Directed toward left hip and rests on diaphragm
Located around 5th intercoastal space
Site of apical pulse
Left Atrium
Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via pulmonary veins & sends it to left ventricle
Left Ventricle
Pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body through the aorta
Has the thickest myocardium to generate strong contractions
Left Ventricle
Right Atrium
Receives deoxygenated blood from the body via superior & inferior vena cava and sends it to right atrium
Right Ventricle
Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery
Coronary Artery
Supplies fresh blood with oxygen & nutrients to the heart muscle
Encircle the heart in the coronary sulcus (atroventricular groove) at the junction of the atria and ventricles
Major Branches of the Coronary Artery
Anterior Intraventricular Artery (Left)
Circumflex Artery (Left)
Posterior Intraventricular Artery (Right)
Marginal Artery (Right)
Pulmonary Artery
Blood vessel that branches & carries blood to the lungs to receive oxygen
Can be found curving out of the right ventricle (upper chamber to your left)
Starts as the pulmonary trunk before splitting into right & left pulmonary arteries
Aorta
Largest artery
Carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body
Located near the right atria and just behind the pulmonary arteries
Aortic Arch
Curved part of the aorta
Pulmonary Veins
Returns oxygenated blood from the right & left lungs to the left atrium
Number of pulmonary veins
4 (2 from each lung; superior & inferior)
