Middle mediastinum - heart - position and fibrous skeleton (dave's notes)

Question 1

What is the right border of the heart? Where does it extend from and to?

Answer 1

The right atrium. This extends from the lower border of the right 3rd costal cartilage to the lower border of the right 6th costal cartilage.

Question 2

What makes up the inferior border of the heart? Where does this extend from and two?

Answer 2

The inferior border is mostly right ventricle, and a small portion of left ventricle at the apex.
This extends from the right 6th costal cartilage to the apex at the 5th intercostal space.

Question 3

What makes up the left border of the heart? Where does it extend to?

Answer 3

The left border is mostly left ventricle with the auricle of the left atrium at the top.
This extends to the lower border of the left second costal cartilage.

Question 4

What makes up the anterior surface of the heart? How else is the anterior surface known?

Answer 4

Sternocostal surface. Consists of right atrium, the vertical AV groove, and the RV plus a narrow strip of LV

Question 5

What makes up the diaphragmatic surface of the heart?

Answer 5

The right atrium (receives the IVC) the AP AV groove (what is this?), 1/3rd of the right ventricle and 2/3rds of the left ventricle. The left atrium is attached behind the right atrium but at a higher level.

Question 6

What makes up the posterior surface of the heart?

Answer 6

Made up almost entirely of left atrium

Question 7

Describe the fibrous skeleton of the heart

Answer 7

Atria and ventricles are attached to a figure 8 fibrous skeleton lying on the sagittal plane.

Question 8

Where are the atria and ventricles located relative to the fibrous skelton?

Answer 8

Atria to the right, ventricles to the left with no muscular continuity, just the AV conduction bundle

Question 9

What else is attached to the fibrous skeleton?

Answer 9

The membranous part of the septum, and the bases of the cusps and valves.