Heart and Mediastinum

Question 1

What part of the mediastinum holds the heart?

Answer 1

middle

Question 2

The superior mediastinum lies right behind the breast plate, what major vessels are in this space?

Answer 2

ascending aorta, aortic arch into right brachiocephalic trunk (splits into right common carotid and right subclavian) and left subclavian and left common carotid

superior vena cava, left and right brachiocephalic vein

Question 3

Superior mediastinum contents

Which one is most anterior?

Answer 3

thymus gland
trachea
esophagus
great vessels - BC veins, SVC, arch of aorta, carotid and subclavian artery

thymus is most anterior

Question 4

Inferior mediastinum contents

Answer 4

heart
thoracic aorta
esophagus
trachea

Question 5

Contents of the anterior mediastinum

Answer 5

connective tissue and sternopericardial ligaments

(remember hard to get these off when taking off chest wall)

Question 6

Contents of the middle mediastinum

Answer 6

Heart
Aortic Arch
Root of lung

Question 7

Posterior Mediastinum contents

Answer 7

aorta
vena cava and azygos veins
thoracic duct
esophagus
sympathetic ganglia and splanchnic nerves

Question 8

The visceral layer of the pericardium is also called the

Answer 8

epicardium

Question 9

The phrenic nerve is asymmetrical because

Answer 9

the heart is offset

Question 10

What vessels supply the pericardial sac?

Answer 10

pericardiacophrenic artery and vein

Question 11

parent structure of the pericardiophrenic artery

Answer 11

internal thoracic artery

Question 12

Pericarditis - causes and symptoms

Answer 12

viral and bacterial infections, systemic illness or after MI

chest pain with UE referral but relieved with sitting forward

Question 13

What is constrictive pericarditis?

Answer 13

excessive thickening of the pericardial sac - usually only the parietal

can compress the heart and lead to heat failure

Question 14

apex of the heart lies

Answer 14

left inferior

Question 15

describe the orientation of the interventricular septum

Answer 15

goes between ventricles and through apex on an oblique axis

Question 16

Difference between coronary sulcus and coronary sinus (and where are they?)

Answer 16

coronary sulcus is posterior depression for the coronary sinus (vein) to run through

horizontal

Question 17

azygous vein parent structure

Answer 17

SVC

Question 18

Describe blood flow through the heart

Answer 18

Deoxygenated blood enters through the IVC or SVC into the right atrium, through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, then through the pulmonary valve into pulmonary arteries which go to the lungs, blood becomes oxygenated and returns to heart via pulmonary veins into the left atrium, then through the mitral valve into left ventricle, then through aortic valve and out through the aorta

Question 19

A blood clot traveling from the body would first enter what structure of the body?

Answer 19

right atrium

Question 20

T/F: the RV and LV eject the same volume of blood per beat

Answer 20

T