Thorax 3 - the heart Flashcards
Where does in heart sit?
Between 2 pleural cavities in the mediastinum. It lies between the cavities in the pericardium
What is the advantage of the pericardium?
Protects the heart from infection elsewhere in the body
Where is the apex of the heart found?
5th intercostal space
What do the surfaces of the heart touch?
Base touches the diaphragm.
Anteriorly touching the sternum and a pulmonary surface touching the lungs
What are the 3 entries of the right atrium?
Inferior vena cave
Superior vena cava
Coronary sinus
What are the names of the 3 branches coming off the aorta/
Brachiocephalic artery branching into the right common carotid and the right subclavian artery
Second branch is the left common carotid
Third branch is the left subclavian
What is the superior vena cava formed from?
Internal jugular and subclavian veins
What is the function of the chordae tendineae?
To anchor the valves to the papillary muscles and to the ventricle walls
What makes the mitral valve different?
It only has 2 cusps instead of 3
Where do we listen to the tricuspid valve?
The LHS of the sternum in the 5th intercostal space.
Where do we listen to the aortic and pulmonary valves?
Either side of sternum, 5th intercostal space.
Where are pectinate muscles found?
In the atria needed for contraction
What is the fossa ovalis?
Thumb-like depression which used to allow blood to flow between the atria to avoid the lungs in foetuses.
Where do we find trabeculae carnae?
Muscles lining ventricle walls
What is the ligamentum arteriosum?
Shrivelled tissue where the fossa ovalis used to be. It attaches the pulmonary trunk to the branch of the aorta.
Where does the right coronary artery run?
Comes from the bottom of the aorta and runs in the atrioventricular groove (between right atrium and right ventricle)
What are the 3 branches off the right coronary artery?
Nodal branch
Right marginal branch
Posterior inter ventricular branch
What are the 3 branches running off the left coronary artery?
Left anterior descending
Circumflex branch
Left marginal branch
Where do the great, middle and small cardiac veins drain to?
Coronary sinus to the right atrium
What is the role of the cardiac skeleton?
- anchor valve cusps
- prevents over-dilation of valve openings
- point of insertion of bundles of heart muscle
- electrical insulation
What is the order of electrical conductivity in the heart?
SA node, AV node, bundle of His, purkinje fibers
What is the difference between the visceral and parietal pericardium?
Visceral - against the heart
Partietal - outer bag the heart sits in
What does the pericardium attach to?
The diaphragm and the sternum
What are the functions of the pericardium?
Anchoring
Prevents over-filling
Lubrication
Protection
