The Heart

Question 1

heart

Answer 1

an organ in the body that controls the flow of the blood

Question 2

pulmonary circuit

Answer 2

system of blood vessels that serves gas exchange in the lungs; i.e. pulmonary arteries, capillaries, and veins

Question 3

systemic circuit

Answer 3

system of blood vessels that serves gas exchange in the body tissues

Question 4

mediastinum

Answer 4

the medial cavity of the thorax containing the heart, great vessels, thymus, and parts of the trachea, bronchi, and esophagus

Question 5

base

Answer 5

posterior surface of the heart

Question 6

apex

Answer 6

the most inferior, anterior, and lateral part of the heart

Question 7

apical impulse

Answer 7

the pulse felt at the point of maximum impulse

Question 8

pericardium

Answer 8

double-layered sac enclosing the heart and forming its superficial layer; has fibrous and serous layers

Question 9

fibrous pericardium

Answer 9

the loosely fitting superficial part of the pericardium

• protects the heart
• anchors it to surrounding structures
• preventing overfilling of the heart with blood

Question 10

serous pericardium

Answer 10

a thin, slippery, two-layer serous membrane that forms a closed sac around the heart

Question 11

parietal layer

Answer 11

pertaining to the walls of a cavity; lines the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium

Question 12

visceral layer

Answer 12

also called the epicardium which is an integral part of the heart wall

Question 13

pericardial cavity

Answer 13

the space between the layers of the pericardium that contains fluid that lubricates the membrane surfaces and allows easy heart movement

Question 14

epicardium

Answer 14

the visceral layer of the serous pericardium

Question 15

myocardium

Answer 15

layer of the heard wall composed of cardiac muscle

Question 16

cardiac skeleton

Answer 16

connective tissue fibers that reinforces the myocardium internally and anchors the cardiac muscle fibers

Question 17

endocardium

Answer 17

endothelial membrane that lines the interior of the heart

Question 18

atria

Answer 18

the two superior receiving chambers of the heart

Question 19

ventricles

Answer 19

paired, inferiorly located heart chambers that function as the major blood pumps; cavities in the brain

Question 20

interatrial septum

Answer 20

the internal partition that divides the heart longitudinally; separates the atria

Question 21

interventricular septum

Answer 21

separates the ventricles

Question 22

coronary sulcus

Answer 22

encircles the junction of the atria and ventricles like a crown

Question 23

anterior interventricular sulcus

Answer 23

marks the anterior position of the septum separating the right and left ventricles

Question 24

posterior interventricular sulcus

Answer 24

marks the posterior position of the septum separating the right and left ventricles

Question 25

auricles

Answer 25

protruding appendages which increase the atrial volume

Question 26

pectinate muscles

Answer 26

parallel ridges in the walls of the atria of the heart

Question 27

fossa ovalis

Answer 27

the interatrial septum bears a shallow depression that marks the spot where an opening, the foramen ovale, existed in the fetal heart

Question 28

superior vena cava

Answer 28

vein that returns blood from body regions superior to the diaphragm

Question 29

inferior vena cava

Answer 29

vein that returns blood from body areas below the diaphragm

Question 30

coronary sinus

Answer 30

collects blood draining from the myocardium

Question 31

pulmonary veins

Answer 31

vessels that deliver freshly oxygenated blood from the respiratory zones of the lungs of the heart

Question 32

trabeculae carneae

Answer 32

irregular ridges of muscle that mark the internal walls of the ventricular chambers

Question 33

papillary muscles

Answer 33

play a role in valve function

Question 34

pulmonary trunk

Answer 34

major vessel of the human heart that originates from the right ventricle

Question 35

Aorta

Answer 35

The largest artery in the body