Heart and Mediastinum Blue Boxes

Question 1

Division between the superior and inferior mediastinum

Answer 1

transverse thoracic plane

Question 2

Anatomical descriptions describe viscera as if the person was in what position?

Answer 2

supine

Question 3

In the supine position:

Answer 3

Arch of aorta lies superior to transverse thoracic plane; bifurcation of the trachea is transected by the transverse thoracic plane; central tendon of the diaphragm lies at the xiphisternal junction and vertebra T9

Question 4

When standing or sitting upright:

Answer 4

Arch of aorta is transected by the transverse thoracic plane; tracheal bifurcation is inferior to transverse thoracic plane; central tendon of diaphragm may fall to the middle of the xiphoid process and T9-T10 IV disks

Question 5

Procedure where surgeons use an endoscope to view or biopsy mediastinal lymph nodes

Answer 5

mediastinoscopy

Question 6

Removing part of costal cartilage to explore the mediastinum

Answer 6

anterior thoracotomy

Question 7

Massive enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes and widening of the mediastinum is caused by what?

Answer 7

malignant lymphoma

Question 8

Hypertrophy of the heart and widening of the inferior mediastinum is often caused by what?

Answer 8

congestive heart failure (venous blood returns to the heart at a rate that exceeds cardiac output)

Question 9

Can a head-on-collision cause widening of the mediastinum?

Answer 9

Yes, may produce a hemorrhage

Question 10

The transverse pericardial sinus is located where?

Answer 10

posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk. Important in coronary artery bypass grafting (clamping of arteries)

Question 11

What surrounds the inferior and superior venae cavae in the mediastinum?

Answer 11

pericardium

Question 12

Inflammation of the pericardium

Answer 12

pericarditis

Question 13

Friction of the serous layers of the pericardium

Answer 13

pericardial friction rub

Question 14

pericardial effusion

Answer 14

The passage of fluid from pericardial capillaries into the pericardial cavity, or an accumulation of pus caused by an inflammatory disease.

Question 15

Non-inflammatory pericardial effusions often occur from what?

Answer 15

congestive heart failure (also causes right cardiac hypertension)

Question 16

A potentially lethal condition caused by extensive pericardial effusion resulting in reduced cardiac output

Answer 16

cardiac tamponade (heart cant expand fully, which limits amount of blood received)

Question 17

Blood in the pericardial cavity

Answer 17

hemopericardium (also produces cardiac tamponade)

Question 18

Myocardial infarction

Answer 18

heart attack

Question 19

Dissection of air or gas along connective tissue planes into the pericardial sac in patients with pneumothorax

Answer 19

pneumopericardium

Question 20

Drainage of fluid from the pericardial cavity via the left 5th or 6th intercostal space near the sternum

Answer 20

pericardiocentis

Question 21

Stopping the escape of blood form the heart in emergency situations is called what?

Answer 21

stasis of the hemorrhage

Question 22

Reversal of embryonic heart resulting in the apex on the right side

Answer 22

dextrocardia (most common positional abnormality of the heart)

Question 23

situs inversus

Answer 23

dextrocardia with transposition of thoracic and abdominal viscera

Question 24

isolated dextrocardia

Answer 24

transposition only affecting the heart accompanied with transposition of the great arteries

Question 25

A technique in which a radiopague catheter is inserted into a peripheral vein into the right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary trunk, and pulmonary arteries

Answer 25

cardiac catheterization

Question 26

Observing the flow of radiopague contrast dye in real time

Answer 26

cardiac ultrasonography (cineradiography)

Question 27

The primordial atrium is represented by what in the adult

Answer 27

right auricle

Question 28

The definitive atrium includes most of which embryological structure?

Answer 28

sinus venosus

Question 29

What is the line of fusion of the primordial atrium and the sinus venarum indicated by?

Answer 29

internally by the crista terminalis and externally by the sulcus terminalis

Question 30

When the oval foramen closes after the first breath what is formed?

Answer 30

oval fossa and the border of the oval fossa

Question 31

Does the rudimentary IVC valve have any function after birth?

Answer 31

no