Lecture 2: Positon of Heart Flashcards
where does the heart lie within the thorax?
lies in the mediastinum (partitioned b/w L and R pleura)
usually covered by 3-6th ICS
dorsal boundary = horizontal plane through 1st rib
caudal boundary = dome of diaphragm
ventral boundary = sternum
majority of heart lies to the LEFT
how does the long axis of the heart lie in horses, ruminants and dogs/cats
vertical in horse
almost vertical in ruminant
progressively oblique in pig, dog and cat
describe the size of the heart
approx 0.6% total BW
post natally heart increases by hypertrophy (increase in cell size)
comparative aspects = globular in small animals, cone shape in horse and ruminant
describe the shape of the heart
slight flattened cone
base = most dorsal part
great veins emerge form base, great arteries leave from base
apex = tapered portion of the cone, formed by the left ventricle
long axis = extend from base to apex
what is the pericardium?
serous sac enclosing the heart
made from simple squamous mesothelium
what are the 4 major functions of the pericardium
- protective sac
- maintain heart position
- minmise friction during cardiac cycle
- prevent over distention of the heart
what is the lubricant within the pericardial cavity?
pericardial fluid
what are the two layers of pericardium?
visceral - inner, coats heart
parietal - neck of sac continues to utter wall, external surface reinforced by strong layer of fibroelastic tissue.
what ligaments anchor the pericardium in position ventrally and caudally in horses, ruminants, pigs?
ruminants - paired sternopericardiac ligament = from pericardium to sternum
horse - single midline sternopericardiac ligament
carnivores, pigs = attach to diaphragm as phrenico-pericardiac ligament
what is the pericardial attachment to the thoracic wall?
through the cardiac notch - a gap through the ventral boarder between left and right lung
good acoustics here
What chambers make up the base of the heart?
thin walled atria
what does the coronary groove demarcate and what does it contain ?
atria from the ventricles (often concealed by fat) contains the main coronary vessels
what is an auricle?
free appendage/diverticulum
what is the left surface of the heart called and why?
the auricular surface - because can see both left and right auricles
what internal structure seperates the right and left internal chambers?
the inter ventricular septum, marked externally by the inter ventricular groove (L & R)
are the cranial and caudal boarders of the heart concave or convex?
(RV) cranial - convex (LV) caudal - species dependent horse = almost straight carnivore = slightly convex ruminant = slightly concave
what are the four main openings of the right atrium
- cranial vena cava - drains head, neck and forelimbs
- caudal vena cava - drains abd organs and hindlimbs
- coronary sinus - return venous blood from heart
- right atrioventricular orifice - transfer blood from RA to RV.
what is the role of the right atrium?
principle systemic venous discharge