The Heart Flashcards
heart
an organ in the body that controls the flow of the blood
pulmonary circuit
system of blood vessels that serves gas exchange in the lungs; i.e. pulmonary arteries, capillaries, and veins
systemic circuit
system of blood vessels that serves gas exchange in the body tissues
mediastinum
the medial cavity of the thorax containing the heart, great vessels, thymus, and parts of the trachea, bronchi, and esophagus
base
posterior surface of the heart
apex
the most inferior, anterior, and lateral part of the heart
apical impulse
the pulse felt at the point of maximum impulse
pericardium
double-layered sac enclosing the heart and forming its superficial layer; has fibrous and serous layers
fibrous pericardium
the loosely fitting superficial part of the pericardium
- protects the heart
- anchors it to surrounding structures
- preventing overfilling of the heart with blood
serous pericardium
a thin, slippery, two-layer serous membrane that forms a closed sac around the heart
parietal layer
pertaining to the walls of a cavity; lines the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium
visceral layer
also called the epicardium which is an integral part of the heart wall
pericardial cavity
the space between the layers of the pericardium that contains fluid that lubricates the membrane surfaces and allows easy heart movement
epicardium
the visceral layer of the serous pericardium
myocardium
layer of the heard wall composed of cardiac muscle
cardiac skeleton
connective tissue fibers that reinforces the myocardium internally and anchors the cardiac muscle fibers
endocardium
endothelial membrane that lines the interior of the heart
atria
the two superior receiving chambers of the heart
ventricles
paired, inferiorly located heart chambers that function as the major blood pumps; cavities in the brain
interatrial septum
the internal partition that divides the heart longitudinally; separates the atria
interventricular septum
separates the ventricles
coronary sulcus
encircles the junction of the atria and ventricles like a crown
anterior interventricular sulcus
marks the anterior position of the septum separating the right and left ventricles
posterior interventricular sulcus
marks the posterior position of the septum separating the right and left ventricles
auricles
protruding appendages which increase the atrial volume
pectinate muscles
parallel ridges in the walls of the atria of the heart
fossa ovalis
the interatrial septum bears a shallow depression that marks the spot where an opening, the foramen ovale, existed in the fetal heart
superior vena cava
vein that returns blood from body regions superior to the diaphragm
inferior vena cava
vein that returns blood from body areas below the diaphragm
coronary sinus
collects blood draining from the myocardium
pulmonary veins
vessels that deliver freshly oxygenated blood from the respiratory zones of the lungs of the heart
trabeculae carneae
irregular ridges of muscle that mark the internal walls of the ventricular chambers
papillary muscles
play a role in valve function
pulmonary trunk
major vessel of the human heart that originates from the right ventricle
Aorta
The largest artery in the body
