The Heart Flashcards
What are the key functions of the heart?
- transport of oxygen
- transport of nutrients
- removal of waste products
- immune system
- paracrine system
Describe the structure of the heart
the heart is a dual pump driving 2 parallel circulatory systems –> pulmonary circulation & systemic circulation
Describe the function of the Vena Cava
- carries deoxygenated blood from the heart
- superior vena cava carries blood from the head & upper body
- inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower body
Describe the function of the pulmonary veins
carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart
Describe the function of the aorta
carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body
Describe the function of the pulmonary artery
carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs
Describe the atria
- receives incoming blood from veins
- contraction of atria pushes blood into ventricles
- thin walls
- valves prevent blood from ventricles going back into atria
Describe the ventricles
- responsible for pumping blood through arteries
- thick muscular walls
- left ventricle has thicker wall as it does more work
- two ventricles are separated by a muscular septum
What are the 2 kinds of semilunar valves ?
- pulmonary valve
- aortic valve
Describe the pulmonary valve
regulates blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery
Describe the aortic valve
regulates the blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta
What are the 2 types of atrioventricular valves ?
- mitral valve
- tricuspid valve
Describe the mitral valve
- regulates blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle
- 2 leaflets = bicuspid
Describe the tricuspid valve
- regulates blood flow from the right atrium
- 3 leaflets = tricuspid
How are the atrioventricular valves connected to the ventricle wall ?
via chordae tendineae and regulated by papillary muscles
Describe the coronary vasculature
- supplies oxygenated blood to the heart muscle
- coronary arteries branch off from the aorta
What are the 5 components of the heart wall ?
- Pericardium
- Pericardial cavity
- Epicardium
- Myocardium
- Endocardium
Describe the pericardium
outer layer of connective tissue
Describe the epicardium
role in homeostasis & regeneration
Describe the myocardium
- the contractile part of the heart
- made up of cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelium & monocytes/macrophages
Describe cardiomyocytes
- contractile heart muscle
- striated muscle cells containing filaments of contractile proteins
- 30% of all heart cells
- 70-80% by volume
- linked via gap junctions
Describe Fibroblasts
- function to maintain structure and in homeostasis
- forms scar tissue
- 13% of all heart cells
- 1-2% by volume
Describe vascular endothelium
- forms the walls of vasculature supplying blood to heart muscle
- 55% of all heart cells
- 3-5% by volume
Describe monocytes/macrophages
- involved in the immune system
- 4% of all heart cells