Spots Part Bs: External Heart

Question 1

Name the layers of the pericardium

Answer 1

Fibrous pericardium
Visceral Serous Pericardium
Parietal Serous pericardium

Question 2

Which heart chambers meet along the coronary sulcus?

Answer 2

Atria and ventricles

Question 3

What is meant by left coronary dominance?

Answer 3

The posterior descending artery arises from the left coronary artery

Question 4

Where is the apex beat of the heart usually palpated?

Answer 4

5th intercostal space, midclavicular line

Question 5

What term is used to the describe the upper funnel shaped part of the ventricle leading to the artery?

Answer 5

Infundibulum or conus arteriosis

Question 6

What are the surface markings of the inferior border of the heart?

Answer 6

From the sternal 6th right costal cartilage to the 5th left intercostal space in the midclavicular line

Question 7

What chambers of the heart form the inferior border?

Answer 7

Mostly the right ventricle with the left ventricle at the apex

Question 8

A patient complains of difficulty swallowing. Radiological investigations reveal compression on the oesophagus by the base of the heart. Which chamber of the heart is compressing the oesophagus?

Answer 8

Left atrium

Question 9

List the structures which normally form the anterior surface of the heart

Answer 9

Composed mostly of the right ventricle; some of left ventricle on left side and some of right atrium on right side

Question 10

What are the surface markings of the superior border of the heart?

Answer 10

3rd right costal cartilage to the 2nd left intercostal space

Question 11

List the features which form the superior border of the heart

Answer 11

Right atrium
Left atrium
Aorta
Pulmonary trunk
Superior vena cava

Question 12

What are the surface markings of the left border of the heart.

Answer 12

2nd left intercostal space to apex of heart

Question 13

List the features which form the left border of the heart.

Answer 13

Left ventricle mostly and slightly by the left auricle

Question 14

What areas are usually supplied by the right coronary artery?

Answer 14

Right atrium
Right ventricle
Posterior left ventricle
Some of the left atrium
Interatrial septum
Part of the interventricular septum
60% of the population’s SA node
80% of the population’s AV node

Question 15

Investigations were performed on a patient complaining of chest
pain. They revealed decreased blood supply to the muscle of the
diaphragmatic surface of the heart. Which coronary artery is most likely
occluded in this patient?

Answer 15

Posterior descending branch of the right coronary artery

Question 16

Where does the posterior descending artery descend in?

Answer 16

Interventricular groove

Question 17

Coronary angiography is performed on a patient. A thrombus in
the left coronary artery is visible on the coronary angiogram. List
the areas usually supplied by left Coronary Artery.

Answer 17

Most of the left atrium
Most of the left ventricle
part of the right ventricle
most of the interventricular septum
AV bundle of conducting tissue
SA node in 40% of individuals

Question 18

Which parts of the heart will be damaged as a result of occlusion of the left coronary artery?

Answer 18

Left atrium and left ventricle

Question 19

During coronary catheterisation, a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery. List the vessels it passes through to reach the origin of the coronary arteries.

Answer 19

Femoral artery
External iliac artery
Common iliac artery
Abdominal aorta
Descending thoracic aorta
Aortic arch
Ascending aorta
Coronary arteries

Question 20

What are the surface markings of the right border of the heart?

Answer 20

From 3rd right costal cartilage to 6th right costal cartilage

Question 21

Which chambers of the heart form the right border of the heart?

Answer 21

Right atrium

Question 22

What is the ligamentum arteriosum?

Answer 22

The remnant of the embryonic connection between the pulmonary trunk and aorta.

Question 23

Explain the relevance of the ligamentum arteriosum in the foetus.

Answer 23

During embryology, the lungs are not functional, so blood is shunted through the ductus arteriosus from pulmonary trunk into aortic arch thus bypassing the lungs.

Question 24

Which major artery supplies the atrioventricular node in the majority of the population?

Answer 24

right coronary artery

Question 25

Which vein accompanies the marginal branch of the right coronary artery?

Answer 25

small cardiac vein

Question 26

Which vein accompanies the left anterior descending artery?

Answer 26

Great cardiac vein

Question 27

Which vein accompanies the posterior descending artery?

Answer 27

Middle cardiac vein

Question 28

A patient with pericarditis experiences pain in the shoulder region. Why?

Answer 28

Referred pain
Phrenic nerve carries fibers to C3, C4, C5
Shoulder is dermatome for C4

Question 29

Where should a surgeon insert her fingers to showcase the oblique pericardial sinus?

Answer 29

Under the apex of the heart and move upwards into the recess between the pericardium and the posterior surface of the heart

Question 30

Name the vessels that bound the oblique pericardial sinus.

Answer 30

Pulmonary veins

Question 31

During surgery, the surgeon inserts his index finger through the transverse pericardial sinus. Which vessels lie anterior to his finger?

Answer 31

Pulmonary trunk and ascending aorta

Question 32

Why is cardiac function impaired in cardiac tamponade?

Answer 32

Pericardial cavity is confined space so excess fluid in the cavity compresses the heart

Question 33

which coronary artery supplies the sinoatrial node in the majority of individuals?

Answer 33

Right coronary artery