The Heart Flashcards
where does the heart lie?
within the thoracic cavity within the middle mediastinum
what does the middle mediastinum include? So does that mean the heart lies within the pericardium?
the pericardium, the heart, and the roots of its great vessels; yes
briefly describe the heart and its functions
Slightly larger than your clenched fist
Propels blood to all the parts of the body
Right side receives oxygen-poor blood and pumps it to the lungs
Left side receives oxygen-rich blood and pumps it to the body
what is the heart supplied and drained by?
coronary vessels
what is that the heart has that coordinates the movements of the walls of the chambers?
intrinsic conduction system
the heart can be ascultated, T/F?
true
what did we say occupies the thorax?
heart, lungs, and structures conveying blood and air between them (also contains esophagus)
what is the shape of the thoracic cavity?
a truncated cone and thoracic skeleton resembles a birdcage
what is the floor and what invaginates the thoracic cavity?
the floor is formed by the diaphragm, its deeply invaginated inferiorly by the abdominal viscera
how is the thorax divided?
the central mediastinum and the right and left pulmonary cavities
what is the mediastinum?
the region between the pulmonary cavities, considered the central compartment of the thoracic cavity
what does the mediastinum contain?
all thoracic viscera and structures except the lungs – heart, great vessels, pericardium, esophagus, trachea, thymus
is the mediastinum highly mobile?
Highly mobile region consisting mainly of hollow structures united by loose connective tissue
how is the mediastinum divided?
superior and inferior with inferior being divided into anterior, middle, and posterior regions
what is included in the middle mediastinum?
includes the pericardium, heart, and roots of its great vessels (ascending aorta, pulmonary trunk, SVC)
what is the landmark dividing superior and inferior mediastinum?
the plane of the sternal angle
describe the location of the plane of the sternal angle?
at the level of the superior border of the pericardium, the bifurcation of the trachea, the end of the ascending aorta, the beginning and end of the arch of the aorta, and the beginning of the thoracic aorta
what is the pericardium?
a double fibroserous membrane that forms the pericardial sac surrounding the heart and origins of the great vessels
*what are the attachments of the pericardium, the external layer?
Is continuous inferiorly with the central tendon of the diaphragm – pericardiacophrenic ligament (not separate structures and cannot be dissected apart)
Is continuous superiorly with the tunica adventitia (outer layer) of the great vessels and the pretracheal layer of deep cervical fascia
Is attached anteriorly to the posterior surface of the sternum by sternopericardial ligaments
Is bound posteriorly by loose connective tissue to structures in the posterior mediastinum
what does the external layer of the pericardium protect for the heart?
it protects the heart against sudden overfilling
describe the external layer of the pericardium?
fibrous
what is the internal surface of the pericardium comprised of?
mainly of mesothelium
describe the two layers of the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium (external layer)
serous pericardium, parietal layer
serous pericardium, visceral layer (this adheres firmly to the eternal surface of the heart known and is also known as the epicardium).
what are the great vessels of the heart?
aorta, pulmonary trunk and veins, SVC, IVC
what supplies the pericardium?
pericardiacophrenic arteries
what are the pericardiacophrenic arteries?
branches of the internal thoracic artery
what are branches of the internal thoracic artery?
Smaller contributions come from the musculophrenic artery, some small branches of the thoracic aorta, and coronary arteries (visceral layer only)
whats the pericardium drained by?
pericardiacophrenic veins into the SVC through brachiocephalic or internal thoracic veins
May also be drained by variable tributaries of the azygos venous system
what innervates the pericardium?
Innervated by the phrenic nerve, vagus nerve, and branches from the sympathetic trunks which are vasomotor
what is significant to note about innervation of the pericardium by the phrenic nerve?
The phrenic nerve is the primary source of sensory fibers (pain is commonly referred to C3-C5 dermatomes)
the sympathetic trunks that also innervate the pericardium are _____?
vasomotor
what is the pericardial cavity?
the space within the pericardial sac between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium
what is the pericardial cavity filled with?
a thin layer of serous fluid for frictionless movement of the heart
what are the two pericardial recesses?
transverse pericardial sinus and the oblique pericardial sinus
where do the two pericardial recesses form?
where the serous pericardium reflects around the roots of the great vessels (form as a result of the folding of the primordial heart tube)
what is the transverse pericardial sinus?
a passage between the inflow channels (SVC and pulmonary veins) and the outflow channels (aorta and pulmonary trunk) superior to the atria – surgically significant for cardiac procedures
what is the oblique pericardial sinus?
is a wide, pocket-like recess of the pericardial cavity posterior to the base of the heart
what is the heart?
a hollow muscular organ located in the middle mediastinum within the pericardial sac and rests on the central tendon of the diaphragm and flanked on either side by the pulmonary cavities
what shape is the heart?
conical shape
what is the base of the heart?
top portion of the heart, on its superior and posterior surfaces and is anchored by the great vessels. Formed mainly by the left atrium with a portion of the right atrium
what is the apex of the heart?
bottom portion of the heart, inferior and to the left, not anchored within the pericardial sac. Located approximately at the 5th intercostal space, projects anteriorly
what is the heart generally divided into?
four chambers – two atria and two ventricles
what are the extensions of the atria and visible externally?
two small appendages, the left and right auricles
what are the first branches of the aorta?
the coronary arteries
what do the coronary arteries supply?
supply the myocardium and epicardium (middle layer of cardiac muscle and external layer of visceral serous pericardium)
where do the right and left coronary arteries arise?
from the ascending aorta just superior to the right and left cusps of the aortic valve