Heart Flashcards
Where does the aorta arise from
the aortic orifice at the base of the left ventricle, with inflow via the aortic valve. Its first segment is known as the ascending aorta, which lies within the pericardium (covered by the visceral layer).
Is the first segment of the aorta covered but the pericardium
Its first segment is known as the ascending aorta, which lies within the pericardium (covered by the visceral layer).
The second continuous segment is the arch of the aorta, from which branch the major arteries to the head, neck and upper limbs. These are:
Brachiocephalic trunk
Left common carotid artery
Left subclavian artery
Where does the descending` aorta travel
After the arch of the aorta, the aorta then becomes the descending aorta which continues down through the diaphragm into the abdomen.
What do The pulmonary arteries do
The pulmonary arteries
From where do the pulmonary arteries arise? and where are they located
The arteries begin as the pulmonary trunk, a thick and short vessel, which is separated from the right ventricle by the pulmonary valve. The trunk is located anteriorly and medially to the right atrium, sharing a common layer of pericardium with the ascending aorta. It continues upwards, overlapping the root of the aorta and passing posteriorly.
Around which level does the pulmonary trunk split into right and left arteries
T5-T6
What does the left pulmonary artery supply
supplies blood to the left lung, bifurcating into two branches to supply each lobe of the lung.
What does the right pulmonary artery supply
The right pulmonary artery is the thicker and longer artery of the two, supplying blood to the right lung. It also further divides into two branches.
What do the pulmonary veins do
The pulmonary veins receive oxygenated blood from the lungs, delivering it to the left side of the heart to be pumped back around the body.
How many Pulmonary veins?
There are four pulmonary veins, with one superior and one inferior for each of the lungs.
Why do the pulmonary veins run into the pericardium
They enter the pericardium to drain into the superior left atrium, on the posterior surface. The oblique pericardial sinus can be found within the pericardium, between the left and right veins.
what do The superior pulmonary veins and inferior do
The superior pulmonary veins return blood from the upper lobes of the lung, with the inferior veins returning blood from the lower lobes.
Where is the left inferior pulmonary vein found?
The inferior left pulmonary vein is found at the hilum of the lung
Where is the right inferior pulmonary vein found
the right inferior pulmonary vein runs posteriorly to the superior vena cava and the right atrium.
The function of Superior vena cava
The superior vena cava receives deoxygenated blood from the upper body (superior to the diaphragm, excluding the lungs and heart), delivering it to the right atrium.
How is superior Vena cava formed
It is formed by merging of the brachiocephalic veins, travelling inferiorly through the thoracic region until draining into the superior portion of the right atrium at the level of the 3rd rib.
As the superior vena cava makes its descent it is located in the right side of the superior mediastinum, before entering the middle mediastinum to lie beside the ascending aorta.
The function of Inferior Vena Cava
The inferior vena cava receives deoxygenated blood from the lower body (all structures inferior to the diaphragm), delivering it back to the heart.
Formation of the inferior vena cava
It is initially formed in the pelvis by the common iliac veins joining together. It travels through the abdomen, collecting blood from the hepatic, lumbar, gonadal, renal and phrenic veins. The inferior vena cava then passes through the diaphragm, entering the pericardium at the level of T8. It drains into the inferior portion of the right atrium
Where does the heart lie
Middle Mediastinum
Where does apex point
anterior-inferior direction.
Anterior (or sternocostal)
Right ventricle.
Posterior (or base)
Left atrium
Inferior (or diaphragmatic)
Left and right ventricles.
Right pulmonary
Right atrium.
Left pulmonary
Left ventricle
Right border
Right atrium
Inferior border
Left ventricle and right ventricle
Left border
Left ventricle (and some of the left atrium)
Superior border
Right and left atrium and the great vessels
What are the Sulci
On the interior, it is divided into four chambers. These divisions create grooves on the surface of the heart – these are known as sulci.
Where does the coronary sulcus (or atrioventricular groove) run
runs transversely around the heart
What does runs transversely around the heart represent
it represents the wall dividing the atria from the ventricles. The sinus contains important vasculature, such as the right coronary artery.
Where do the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci run and what do they represent
can be found running vertically on their respective sides of the heart. They represent the wall separating the ventricles.
What are the pericardial sinuses
The pericardial sinuses are not the same as ‘anatomical sinuses’ (such as the paranasal sinuses). They are passageways formed the unique way in which the pericardium folds around the great vessels.
What is The oblique pericardial sinus
is a blind ending passageway (‘cul de sac’) located on the posterior surface of the heart.
What is The transverse pericardial sinus
is found superiorly on the heart. It can be used in coronary artery bypass grafting
Location of the Transverse pericardial sinus
1 Posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk.
2 Anterior to the superior vena cava.
3 Superior to the left atrium.
Importance of location of transverse pericardial sinus
In this position, the transverse pericardial sinus separates the arterial vessels (aorta, pulmonary trunk) and the venous vessels (superior vena cava, pulmonary veins) of the heart.
This can be used to identify and subsequently ligate (to tie off) the arteries of the heart during coronary artery bypass grafting.
Function of right atrium
The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cavae, and from the coronary veins. It pumps this blood through the right atrioventricular orifice (guarded by the tricuspid valve) into the right ventricle.
In the anatomical position, the right atrium forms the right border of the heart what extends from this
Extending from the antero-medial portion of the chamber is the right auricle (right atrial appendage) – a muscular pouch that acts to increase the capacity of the atrium.
The interior surface of the right atrium can be divided into two parts, each with a distinct embryological origin. These two parts are separated by a muscular ridge Called?
crista terminalis
Two parts of interior surface of right atrium
Sinus venarum
Atrium proper
Atrium proper
located anterior to the crista terminalis, and includes the right auricle. It is derived from the primitive atrium, and has rough, muscular walls formed by pectinate muscles.
Sinus Venarum
located posterior to the crista terminalis. This part receives blood from the superior and inferior vena cavae. It has smooth walls and is derived from the embryonic sinus venosus.
The coronary sinus
receives blood from the coronary veins. It opens into the right atrium between the inferior vena cava orifice and the right atrioventricular orifice.
interatrial septum
is a solid muscular wall that separates the right and left atria.
the septal wall in the right atrium is marked by a small oval-shaped depression called
fossa ovalis
The fossa ovalis
the foramen ovale in the foetal heart, which allows right to left shunting of blood to bypass the lungs. It closes once the newborn takes its first breath
Atrial Septal Defect
An atrial septal defect is an abnormal opening in the interatrial septum, persistent after birth. The most common site is the foramen ovale, and this is known as a patent foramen ovale.
In the adult, left atrial pressure is usually greater than that of the right atrium, so blood is shunted through the opening from left to right. In large septal defects, this can cause right ventricular overload, leading to pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy and ultimately right heart failure.
Definitive treatment is closure of the defect by surgical or transcatheter closure.
The function fo the left atrium
The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the four pulmonary veins, and pumps it through the left atrioventricular orifice (guarded by the mitral valve) into the left ventricle.
In the anatomical position where is the left atrium
In the anatomical position, the left atrium forms the posterior border (base) of the heart. The left auricle extends from the superior aspect of the chamber, overlapping the root of the pulmonary trunk.
The interior surface of the left atrium can be divided into two parts, each with a distinct embryological origin:
1 Inflow portion
2 Outflow portion
Inflow portion
receives blood from the pulmonary veins. Its internal surface is smooth and it is derived from the pulmonary veins themselves.
Outflow Portion
located anteriorly, and includes the left auricle. It is lined by pectinate muscles, and is derived from the embryonic atrium.
Purpose of the Ventricles
The left and right ventricles of the heart receive blood from the atria and pump it into the outflow vessels; the aorta and the pulmonary artery respectively.
The right ventricle
The right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium, and pumps it through the pulmonary orifice (guarded by the pulmonary valve), into the pulmonary artery.
It is triangular in shape, and forms the majority of the anterior border of the heart. The right ventricle can be divided into an inflow and outflow portion, which are separated by a muscular ridge known as the
supraventricular crest.
The interior of the inflow part of the right ventricle is covered by a series of irregular muscular elevations, called
trabeculae carnae
What part of the right ventricle is covered by trabeculae carnae
The interior of the inflow part of the right ventricle
Three types of trabeculae carnae
Ridges
Bridges
Pillars
Trabeculae Carnae - Ridges
attached along their entire length on one side to form ridges along the interior surface of the ventricle.
Trabeculae Carnae - Bridges
attached to the ventricle at both ends, but free in the middle. The most important example of this type is the moderator band, which spans between the interventricular septum and the anterior wall of the right ventricle. It has an important conductive function, containing the right bundle branches.
Trabeculae Carnae - Pillars
(papillary muscles) – anchored by their base to the ventricles. Their apices are attached to fibrous cords (chordae tendineae), which are in turn attached to the three tricuspid valve cusps. By contracting, the papillary muscles ‘pull’ on the chordae tendineae to prevent prolapse of the valve leaflets during ventricular systole.
Outflow Portion (Conus arteriosus) of right ventricle
The outflow portion (leading to the pulmonary artery) is located in the superior aspect of the ventricle. It is derived from the embryonic bulbus cordis. It is visibly different from the rest of the right ventricle, with smooth walls and no trabeculae carneae.
The interventricular septum
separates the two ventricles, and is composed of a superior membranous part and an inferior muscular part.
Difference between the two types of the interventricular septum
The muscular part forms the majority of the septum and is the same thickness as the left ventricular wall. The membranous part is thinner, and part of the fibrous skeleton of the heart.
Inflow Portion of Left Ventricle
The walls of the inflow portion of the left ventricle are lined by trabeculae carneae, as described with the right ventricle. There are two papillary muscles present which attach to the cusps of the mitral valve.
The outflow part of the left ventricle is known as the
aortic vestibule
Structure of outflow portion of the left ventricle
It is smooth-walled with no trabeculae carneae, and is a derivative of the embryonic bulbus cordis.