Heart Anatomy Flashcards
What is the path taken around the heart by the right coronary artery?
- Originates from the right aortic sinus
- Travels between the right auricle and pulmonary trunk and through the coronary sulcus to the base of the heart
What does the right coronary artery branch into and what parts of the heart do they supply?
Posterior interventricular coronary artery - right and left ventricles, posterior third interventricular septum
Right marginal coronary artery - right ventricle and the apex
What is the path taken by the left coronary artery?
Travels between the left auricle and pulmonary trunk into the coronary sulcus
What does the left coronary artery branch into and what parts of the heart do they supply?
Anterior interventricular coronary artery - Right and left ventricles, anterior 2/3 interventricular septum
Circumflex coronary artery - Left atrium and left ventricle
Left marginal coronary artery - Left ventricle
What veins drain into the right atrium?
- Coronary sinus
- Superior vena cavae
- Inferior vena cavae
Where is the coronary sinus situated? (The main draining vein of the heart)
Inferior to the left atrium
What is the path taken by the great cardiac vein?
- Originates from the apex of the heart
- Travels along the anterior interventricular vein
- Turns left at coronary sulcus and goes into the coronary sinus
What are the main branches of the aorta?
- Brachiocephalic
- Left carotid artery
- Left subclavian artery
Outline the differences between the regions of the heart supplied by the right and left coronary arteries
Right - right atrium, SA and AV nodes, posterior part of interventricular septum
Left - left atrium, left ventricle, intraventricular septum, AV bundles
What is the function of pacemaker cells and where are they found?
- Generate cardiac action potential
- Wall of right atrium
Name the inflow valves of the heart chambers and state their locations
Mitral - between left atrium and left ventricle
Tricuspid - between right atrium and left ventricle
Name the outflow valves of the heart chambers and state their locations
Aortic - between left ventricle and aorta
Pulmonary - between right ventricle and pulmonary artery
How does the anterior surface of the right atrium differ from the posterior surface?
Smooth, thin posterior surface is derived from the right horn of sinus venosus
Rough, muscular anterior wall is composed of pectinate muscles and is derived from the primitive atrium
What separates the two surfaces of the right atrium?
Crista terminals internally and sulcus terminalis externally
Describe the structure of the left atrium
Large smooth walled part and smaller muscular auricle contacting pectinate muscles
Where do the four pulmonary vein enter the left atrium?
Smooth posterior wall
Describe the structure and function of the tricuspid valve
- Three cusps - anterior, posterior and septal
- Attached to anterior, posterior and septal papillary muscles via chordae tendinae
- Prevents black flow of blood into the right atria from the right ventricle during systole and guard the AV orifice
How does the structure of the mitral valve differ from the tricuspid valve?
Consists of two cusps opposed to three - anterior and posterior
Describe the structure of the semilunar valves
- Three cusps - right, left and posterior
- Edge of each cusp is thickened in the region of contact forming a lunule (bivalve)
- Free edge of the cusp is thickened further forming a nodule
How do the semilunar valves differ from atrioventricular valves?
No tendinous cords to support them or papillary muscles
What is the function of the chordae tendinae?
Prevent cusps of the tricuspid and mitral valves from prolapsing into the right atrium during systole
