Surface Anatomy and Coronary Vessels

Question 1

What is the function of the fibrous part of the pericardial sac?

Answer 1

Holds the heart in place

Question 2

What is the outer layer of the pericardial sac?

Answer 2

Parietal layer

Question 3

What is the inner layer of the pericardial sac?

Answer 3

Serous layer

Question 4

What nerve roots innervate the phrenic nerves?

Answer 4

C3, C4 & C5

Question 5

What is the function of the phrenic nerves?

Answer 5

• Provide motor and sensory innervation to the diaphragm

- Provide sensory innervation to the pericardium

Question 6

Describe the path of phrenic nerves to the heart

Answer 6

• Nerves descend anterior to the lungs
• Right nerve descends over the right atrium
• Left nerve descends over the left atrium

Question 7

What structure is fused with the inferior pericardial surface?

Answer 7

The diaphragm

Question 8

What forms the left border of the heart?

Answer 8

The left ventricle

Question 9

What forms the right border of the heart?

Answer 9

Right atrium

Question 10

What forms the inferior border of the heart?

Answer 10

Right ventricle

Question 11

What forms the anterior surface of the heart?

Answer 11

Right atrium and ventricle

Question 12

What forms the posterior surface of the heart?

Answer 12

Left atrium and ventricle

Question 13

Where do the coronary arteries arise from?

Answer 13

The left and right aortic sinuses

Question 14

What does the right coronary artery supply?

Answer 14

Right atrium, SAN, AVN, posterior part of the interventricular septum

Question 15

What is the path of the right coronary artery?

Answer 15

• Travels in the right atrioventricular groove posteriorly between the right atrium and ventricle
• Gives off 2 branches before continuing around to the posterior aspect of the heart
• Moves through the groove until it reaches the crux where it gives off another branch
• May give off a further branch
• Continues for a short distance along the posterior atrioventricular groove before terminating

Question 16

What is the path of the sinuatrial branch of the RCA?

Answer 16

• Arises from the RCA as it passes through the right AV groove
• Travels towards the SA node where it terminates

Question 17

What does the sinuatrial branch of the RCA supply?

Answer 17

The SA node

Question 18

What is the path of the right marginal branch of the RCA?

Answer 18

• Originates from the RCA distal to the sinuatrial branch
• Moves down towards the apex of the heart
• Terminates before reaching the apex

Question 19

What does the right marginal branch of the RCA supply?

Answer 19

Right border of the heart

Question 20

What is the path of the atrioventricular nodal branch of the RCA?

Answer 20

• Originates from the RCA at the crux of the heart

- Moves to the AVN where it terminates

Question 21

What does the atrioventricular branch of the RCA supply?

Answer 21

AV node

Question 22

What is the path of the posterior interventricular branch of the RCA?

Answer 22

• Originates from the RCA distally to the AV nodal branch
• Descends between the ventricles
• Sends perforating interventricular septal branches into the interventricular septum

Question 23

What does the posterior interventricular branch of the RCA supply?

Answer 23

Interventricular septum

Question 24

What does the left coronary artery supply?

Answer 24

Most of the left atrium and ventricle, IVS and AV bundles, may supply the AVN

Question 25

What is the path of the left coronary artery?

Answer 25

- Runs through the left atrioventricular groove and splits into 2 branches - One branch runs in the anterior IV groove to the apex of the heart - Second branch continues in the AV groove to the posterior surface and usually terminates in the posterior AV groove

Question 26

What is the path of the left anterior descending artery?

Answer 26

- Originates from the LCA as the inferior branch - Runs in the anterior IV groove to the apex of the heart - Gives off interventricular septal branches - Usually gives off another branch to the anterior surface if the heart - Goes around the inferior border of the heart and usually anastomoses with the posterior interventricular artery

Question 27

What does the LAD artery supply?

Answer 27

Adjacent parts of both ventricles

Question 28

What is the path of the diagonal branch of the LAD artery?

Answer 28

- Originates from the LAD artery - Descends the anterior surface of the heart - Terminates on the anterior surface

Question 29

What is the path of the circumflex branch of the LCA?

Answer 29

- Originates from the LCA and follows the AV groove to the posterior surface of the heart - Gives off branch to the left margin of the heart - Usually terminates in the AV groove but may continue to the posterior IV groove - May give off a branch to the SA node

Question 30

What does the left marginal branch of the LCA supply?

Answer 30

Left ventricle

Question 31

What is the path of the left marginal branch of the LCA?

Answer 31

- Originates from the circumflex branch | - Runs down the left margin of the heart

Question 32

What is the coronary sinus?

Answer 32

Main vein of the heart

Question 33

What is the path of the coronary sinus?

Answer 33

Runs from left to right in the posterior part of the AV groove

Question 34

What is the great cardiac vein?

Answer 34

Main tributary of the coronary sinus

Question 35

What is the path of the great cardiac vein?

Answer 35

- Anterior IV vein originates at the apex and ascends with the anterior IV branch of the LCA - Turns left at the AV groove and moves with the circumflex branch of the LCA to the coronary sinus

Question 36

What is the path of the middle cardiac vein?

Answer 36

Accompanies the posterior IV branch of the RCA

Question 37

What is the path of the small cardiac vein?

Answer 37

Accompanies the right marginal branch of the RCA

Question 38

What is the path of the anterior cardiac veins?

Answer 38

- Originate at the anterior surface of the right ventricle - Cross over the AV groove - Usually terminate directly into the right atrium

Question 39

What attaches the pericardial sac to the sternum?

Answer 39

Sternopericardial ligament