The middle mediastinum, the heart and its embryology Flashcards
The layers of the heart chambers
Endocardium- lines the inside of the the heart chamber.
Myocardium- The cardiac muscle tissue. The middle layer.
Epicardium- the outer layer of the heart.
Pericardium
The the membrane that encloses the heart, composed of there layers.
The external layer- Fibrous pericardium. Tough tissue that minimises overstretching with prevents the heart from overfilling.
The serous pericardium:
- Parietal layer: adheres to the fibrous pericardium
- Visceral layer: adheres to the epicardium, shiny external appearance.
The serous pericardial layers are separated by the pericardial cavity.
The pericardium is attached to the great vessels of the heart, the sternum and the diaphragm. Therefore movement in those structures, move the pericardium.
Transverse sinus
Within the pericardial sac, it is the space between the aortic arch and pulmonary trunk.
This space is clinically significant in surgeries as it allows a clamp to be placed to stop outflow of blood while still allowing inflow of blood.
The middle mediastinum boundaries.
Anterior- anterior mediastinum.
Posterior- posterior mediastinum.
Laterally- the mediastinal pleura
Inferiorly- Diaphragm
Superior- thoracic transverse place
Contents of the middle mediastinum
The heart and the pericardium
Ascending aorta
Pulmonary trunk and arteries.
Pulmonary veins
Nerves
Lymph nodes
Embryological origin of the heart
Developed from the mesoderm layer:
1. Angiogenic clusters from mesoderm layer grow and for heart tubes.
- The heart tube grows and then fuses. The superior region, truncus arteriosus, is the primitive outflow tracks. The sinus venosus, inferiorly, is the primitive inflow tracks.
- The primitive ventricle is below the truncus arteriosus, with the primitive atria below. The tube becomes too large for the pericardial space.
- This causes the tube to fold with the atria and inflow tracks folding to the back. Therefore the atria and veins are folded posteriorly.
5, The ventricles and arteries are placed anteriorly.
- The septa grows and divide to form the 4 heart chambers.
The heart is functioning at 23 days.
Fibrous skeleton of the heart
Framework of insulating fibrous tissue in the walls of the heart- Contains four rings.
Location- forms boundaries between the atria and ventricles. Surrounds the start of the pulmonary trunk and aorta.
- Provides attachment for valve in the heart (4 rings= 4 valves).
- Separates atria from ventricles.
- Provides electrical insulation between the atria and ventricles.
- Provides a framework for the attachment of cardiac tissue.
Coronary arteries
Coronary arteries aire located in the atrioventricular and interventricular groove.
The coronary arteries arise from the ascending aorta: right and left coronary arteries.
Right coronary arteries
Branches from the aorta and supply the right side of the heart. Located on the atrioventricular groove/ coronary sulcus
Branches:
Sinoatrial nodal branch of the RCA- next to the SAN
Marginal branch of the RCA
Posterior, interventricular branch of the RCA
Left coronary arteries
Branches from the aorta before bifurcating and forming many branches to supply the left wall of the heart.
Located on the interventricular groove.
Branches:
Circumflex branch of the LCA
- Left marginal branch of the circumflex branch
Anterior interventricular branch of the LCA
- Diagonal branch of the interventricular branch.
Anastomoses of coronary arteries
Exist between the small branches of the RCA and LCA.
Example- connection between the end branches of the anterior interventricular artery connect with the posterior interventricular artery.
Coronary artery dominance
This is the artery that gives rise to the posterior interventricular artery.
In 67% of people, this is the RCA, making them RCA dominant.
In 15% of people, this occurs from the circumflex branch of the LCA, making them LCA dominant.
Variation in coronary arteries
RCA/ LCA dominance- the artery that gives rise to the posterior interventricular artery.
4% of individuals have accessory coronary arteries.
40% of individuals have the sinu-atrial nodal branch from the circumflex artery.
Anastomoses of coronary arteries
Exist between the small branches of the RCA and LCA.
Example- connection between the end branches of the anterior interventricular artery connect with the posterior interventricular artery.
Coronary artery dominance
This is the artery that gives rise to the posterior interventricular artery.
In 67% of people, this is the RCA, making them RCA dominant.
In 15% of people, this occurs from the circumflex branch of the LCA, making them LCA dominant.
Variation in coronary arteries
RCA/ LCA dominance- the artery that gives rise to the posterior interventricular artery.
4% of individuals have accessory coronary arteries.
40% of individuals have the sinu-atrial nodal branch from the circumflex artery.
Venous drainage of the heart
The coronary sinus is the largest vein in the heart, located posteriorly that enters the right atrium in its own opening.
Connected to 4 major cardiac veins:
- Great vein—> drains the left wall anteriorly.
- Middle vein—> drains the right/middle, posteriorly
- Posterior vein—> drains the left wall posteriorly
- Small veins—> drains the right wall, anteriorly.
Condution of nerve impulses in the heart
- Impulse is initiated at the SAN (the pacemaker). SAN is located where the superior vena cava meets the right atrium.
- This impulse is spread across the atrial walls causing them to contract simulateously. The impulse is stopped from spreading to the ventricle via fibrous skeleton.
- Impulse travels to the AVN in the interatrial septum, near the coronary sinus, via internodal tracts.
- AVN divides in the interventricular septum and impulse transmitted down the bundle of His and branch out into Purkinje fibres in ventricular wall. Causing the ventricular walls to contract simultaneously.
Regulation of the conducting system in the heart
The ANS regulates the speed at which SAN generates the impulse but does not initiate the impulse. Nerves enter the cardiac plexus before entering the SAN.
Parasympathetic control:
Vagus nerve
Sympathetic control:
T1-5 paravertebral nerves.
Aorta
Exit vessel for oxygenated blood from the heart.
Ascending aorta- middle mediastinum
Arch of aorta- superior mediastinum
Descending abdominal aorta
Descending thoaracic aorta
Pulmonary trunk
Main exit vessel of deoxygenated blood from the heart, from the right ventricle . Located in the middle mediastinum.
Branches into the left and right pulmonary arteries which enter the hilum of the lung.
Formation of the foramen ovale
In the primitive heart of a foetus, the foramen ovale is the hole between the atria.
- The septum primum forms between both atria.
- A section of the septum primum disintegrates to form the ostium secundum.
- Another wall forms parallel to the septum primum called the septum secundum.
- A hole forms in the septum secundum- foramen ovale. More of the septum primum breaks down. This wall then acts as a valve for the flow of blood from the right to left atrium.
Vena Cavae
Main entry of deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Inferior- drains from the lower part of the body. Mainly in lumabr region, not that long in the abdominal region.
Superior- drains from the upper region of the body receives blood from the left and right brachiocephalic veins
Circulation prebirth
Four main difference in foetus compared to adult circulation:
- The intestines are bypassed as the the foetus receives nutrients from the mother’s blood through the umbilical artery.
- The liver is mainly bypassed as the foetus also receives filtered blood from the mother. Therefore the umbilical vein is connected to the ductus venosus which connects directly to the liver
- The blood enters the right atrium, some of the blood crosses to the left atrium via the foramen ovale.
- When blood is ejected from the right atrium, some of the blood cross across the ductus arteriosus which connects the pulmonary vein to the aortic arch.
