[USMLE] Pericardium and Heart Flashcards
Is a fibroserous sac that encloses the heart and the roots of the great vessels and occupies the middle mediastinum
Pericardium
Pericardium is composed of the
fibrous pericardium and serous pericardium
pericardium receives blood from the
pericardiophrenic, bronchial, and esophageal arteries
pericardium is innervated by
vasomotor and sensory fibers from the phrenic and vagus nerves and the sympathetic trunks
Is a strong, dense, fibrous layer that blends with the adventitia of the roots of the great vessels and the central tendon of the diaphragm.
fibrous pericardium
consists of the parietal layer and the visceral layer
serous pericardium
lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium
parietal layer
forms the outer layer (epicardium) of the heart wall and the roots of the great vessels
visceral layer
is an inflammation of the pericardium (has symptoms of dysphagia, dyspnea and cough, inspiratory chest pain, and paradoxic pulse)
pericarditis
pericarditis also causes the
pericardial murmur or pericardial friction rub
Is a potential space between the visceral layer of the serous pericardium (epicardium) and the parietal layer of the serous pericardium lining the inner surfaces of the fibrous pericardium
pericardial cavity
Is a subdivision of the pericardial sac
transverse sinus
transverse sinus boundaries
lying posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk, anterior to the SVC, and superior to the left atrium and the pulmonary veins
transverse sinus is of great importance to the cardiac surgeon because
while performing surgery on the aorta or pulmonary artery, a surgeon can pass a finger and make a ligature through the sinus between the arteries and veins, thus stopping the blood circulation with the ligature
Is a subdivision of the pericardial sac behind the heart
oblique sinus
oblique sinus is surrounded by the
reflection of the serous pericardium around the right and left pulmonary veins and the inferior vena cava (IVC)
is an acute compression of the heart caused by a rapid accumulation of fluid or blood in the pericardial cavity from wounds to the heart or pericardial effusion (passage of fluid from the pericardial capillaries into the pericardial sac)
Cardiac tamponade:
tamponade can be treated by
pericardiocentesis
is an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space resulting from inflammation caused by acute pericarditis, and the accumulated fluid compresses the heart, inhibiting cardiac filling.
Pericardial effusion
is a surgical puncture of the pericardial cavity for the aspiration of fluid, which
is necessary to relieve the pressure of accumulated fluid on the heart
pericardiocentesis
in pericardiocentesis, a needle is inserted into pericardial cavity through the
fifth intercostal space left to the sternum
Because of the cardiac notch, the needle misses the pleura and lungs, but it penetrates the pericardium.
apex of the heart location
is the blunt rounded extremity of the heart formed by the left ventricle and lies in the left fifth intercostal space slightly medial to the midclavicular (or nipple) line, about 9 cm from the midline
the apex of the heart location is useful clinically for determining the
left border of the heart and for auscultating the mitral valve
the base of the heart is formed by
primarily by the left atrium and only partly by the posterior right atrium
the right (acute) border of the heart is formed by the
SVC, right atrium, and IVC, and its left (obtuse) border is
formed by the left ventricle
in radiology, the left border of the heart consists of the
aortic arch, pulmonary trunk, left auricle, and left ventricle
the heart wall consists of three layers:
inner endocardium , middle myocardium , and outer
epicardium
a groove on the external surface of the right atrium
sulcus terminalis
sulcus terminalis marks the junction of the
primitive sinus venosus with the atrium in the embryo and corresponds to a ridge on the internal heart surface
a ridge on the internal heart surface
crista terminalis
a groove on the external surface of the heart
coronary sulcus
coronary sulcus marks the division between the
atria and the ventricles
is the point at which the interventricular and interatrial sulci cross the coronary sulcus
crux
The cardiovascular silhouette, or cardiac shadow, is the contour of the heart and great vessels seen on
posterior-inferior chest radiographs
the right border of the cardiovascular silhouette is formed by the
SVC, the right atrium, and the IVC
the left border of the cardiovascular silhouette is formed by the
aortic arch (which produces the aortic knob ), the pulmonary trunk, the left auricle, and the left ventricle
the inferior border of the cardiovascular silhouette is formed by the
right ventricle, and the left atrium shows no border
Has an anteriorly situated rough-walled atrium proper and the auricle lined with pectinate muscles and a posteriorly situated smooth-walled sinus venarum , into which the two venae cavae open
right atrium
right vs left atrium (size)
the right atrium is larger than the left atrium but has a thinner wall
the sinus venarum between two venae cavae is separated from the atrium proper by the
crista terminalis
right vs left atrium (pressure)
right atrium has a right atrial pressure that is normally slightly lower than left atrial pressure
right atrium contains the
valve of the IVC and the valve of the coronary sinus
valve of the IVC
eustacian
valve of the coronary sinus
thebesian
Is the conical muscular pouch of the upper anterior portion of the right atrium, which covers the first part of the right coronary artery
Right auricle
Is a posteriorly situated, smooth-walled area that is separated from the more muscular atrium proper by the crista terminalis
Sinus venarum (sinus venarum cavarum)
sinus venarum develops from the _____ and receives the SVC, IVC, coronary sinus, and anterior cardiac veins
embryonic sinus venosus
Are prominent ridges of atrial myocardium located in the interior of both auricles and the right atrium
Pectinate muscles
Crista terminalis is a vertical muscular ridge running
anteriorly along the right atrial wall from the opening of
the SVC to the opening of the IVC
crista terminalis provides the
origin of the pectinate muscles
crista terminalis represents the junction between the
primitive sinus venarum (a smooth-walled region) and the right atrium proper
crista terminalis is indicated externally by the
sulcus terminalis
Are the smallest cardiac veins
Venae cordis minimae
Venae cordis minimae begins
in the substance of the heart (endocardium and
innermost layer of the myocardium)
Venae cordis minimae ends
in the atria at the foramina venarum
minimarum cordis
Is an oval-shaped depression in the interatrial septum
fossa ovalis
fossa ovalis represents the site of the
foramen ovale
in the foramen ovale, blood runs from the
right atrium to the left atrium before birth
upper rounded margin of the fossa is called the
limbus fossa ovale
the walls of the left atrium are smooth except fot a few
pectinate muscles in the auricle
left atrium boundaries
is the most posterior of the four chambers lying posterior to the right atrium but anterior to the esophagus and shows no structural borders on a posteroanterior radiograph
left atrium receives oxygenated blood through
four pulmonary veins
Makes up the major portion of the anterior (sternocostal) surface of the heart
right ventricle
the right ventricle contains
Trabeculae carneae cordis, Papillary muscles, Chordae tendineae, Conus arteriosus (infundibulum), Septomarginal trabecula (moderator band), IV septum
Are anastomosing muscular ridges of myocardium in the ventricles
Trabeculae carneae cordis
Are cone-shaped muscles enveloped by endocardium
Papillary muscles
papillary muscles extend from the anterior and posterior ventricular walls and the septum, and their apices are
attached to the
chordae tendineae
why papillary muscles contract?
to tighten the chordae tendineae, preventing the cusps of the tricuspid valve from being everted into the atrium by the pressure developed by the pumping action of the heart. This prevents regurgitation of ventricular blood into the right atrium
Extend from one papillary muscle to more than one cusp of the tricuspid valve
chordae tendinae
chordae tendinae prevent eversion of the valve cusps into the atrium during
ventricular contractions
Is the upper smooth-walled portion of the right ventricle, which leads to the pulmonary trunk.
Conus arteriosus (infundibulum)
Is an isolated band of trabeculae carneae
Septomarginal trabecula (moderator band)
Septomarginal trabecula (moderator band) forms a bridge between the
intraventricular (IV) septum and the base of the anterior papillary muscle of the anterior wall of the right ventricle.
septomarginal trabercula is called the moderator band for its ability to
prevent overdistention of the ventricle and carries
the right limb (Purkinje fibers) of the atrioventricular (AV) bundle from the septum to the sternocostal wall of the ventricle
Is the place of origin of the septal papillary muscle.
IV septum
IV septum is mostly muscular but has a small membranous upper part, which is a common site of
ventricular septal defects
left ventricle lies
at the back of the heart
the apex of the left ventricle is directed
downward, forward and to the left
left ventricle is divided into the
left ventricle proper and the aortic vestibule
the upper anterior part of the left ventricle and leads into the aorta
aortic vestibule
left ventricle contains
two papillary muscles (anterior and posterior) with their chordae tendineae and a meshwork of muscular ridges, the trabeculae carneae cordis
left vs right ventricle (function, thickness, size, shape)
the left ventricle performs harder work , has a thicker (two to three times as thick) wall, and is longer, narrower, and more conical-shaped than the right ventricle
is a necrosis of the myocardium because of local ischemia resulting from vasospasm or obstruction of the blood supply
Myocardial infarction
symptoms of myocardial infarction
severe chest pain or pressure for a prolonged period (more than 30 minutes), congestive heart failure, and murmur of mitral regurgitation
Myocardial infarction can be treated with
nitroglycerin, morphine, lidocaine or atropine
prevents coronary spasm and reduces myocardial oxygen demand
nitroglycerin
relieves pain and anxiety
morphine
reduces ventricular arrhythmias
lidocaine
restores conduction and increases heart rate
atropine
is characterized by attacks of chest pain originating in the heart and felt beneath the sternum, in many cases radiating to the left shoulder and down the arm
angina pectoris
angina pectoris is caused by an
insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle because of coronary artery disease or exertion
(e.g., exercise, excitement) or emotion (e.g., stress, anger, frustration)
angina pectoris symptoms
severe chest pain or pressure for a prolonged period (more than 30 minutes), congestive heart failure, and murmur of mitral valve regurgitation
angina pectoris can be treated with
nitroglycerin, beta-adrenergic blockers, morphine,
lidocaine, or atropine
is a variant form of angina pectoris caused by transient coronary artery spasm.
Prinzmetal’s angina
The vasospasm typically occurs at
rest
is a restoration of cardiac output and pulmonary ventilation following cardiac arrest and apnea (cessation of breathing) by external cardiac massage
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is performed by applying firm pressure to the chest vertically downward over the
inferior part of the sternum to move it posteriorly, forcing blood out of the heart and into the great vessels
pulmonary valve lies behind the
medial end of the left third costal cartilage and adjoining part of the sternum
pulmonary valve is most audible over the
left second intercostal space just lateral to the sternum
pulmonary valve is opened by the
ventricular systole
pulmonary valve is shut slightly after
closure of the aortic valve
aortic valve lies behind the
left half of the sternum opposite the third intercostal space
aortic valve is closed during the
ventricular diastole
closure of the aortic valve at the beginning of ventricular diastole causes the
second heart sound
the aortic valve is most audible over the
right second intercostal space just lateral to the sternum
tricuspid valve aka
right AV
tricuspid valve lies between the
right atrium and ventricle, behind the right half of the sternum opposite the fourth intercostal space
tricuspid valve is covered by
endocardium
the tricuspid valve is most audible over the
right lower part of the body of the sternum
tricuspid valve has
anterior, posterior, and septal cusps
anterior, posterior, and septal cusps are attached by the
chordae tendineae to three papillary muscles that keep the valve closed against the pressure developed by the pumping action of the heart.
tricuspid valve is closed during
ventricular systole (contraction)
its closure contributes to the
first heart sound
bicuspid valve (left AV) is aka
mitral valve
why is it called mitral valve?
it is shaped like a bishops miter
bicuspid valve lies between the
left atrium and ventricle, behind the left half of the sternum at the fourth costal cartilage
bicuspid valve has how many cusps?
two; larger anterior and smaller posterior
bicuspid valve is closed slightly before the tricuspid valve by the
ventricular contraction (systole)
the closure at the onset of ventricular systole causes the
first heart sound
the bicuspid valve is most audible over the
apical region of the heart in the left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line
is a condition in which the valve everts into the left atrium and thus fails to close properly when the left ventricle contracts
Mitral valve prolapse
mitral valve prolapse may cause
chest pain, shortness of breath,
palpitations, and cardiac arrhythmia
s a characteristic sound generated by turbulence of blood flow through an orifice of the heart
Cardiac murmur
first heart sound is caused by
the closure of the tricuspid and mitral valves at the onset of ventricular systole
second heart sound is caused by
the closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves (and vibration of walls of the heart and major vessels) at the onset of ventricular diastole
Is composed of modified, specialized cardiac muscle cells that lie immediately beneath the endocardium
and carry impulses throughout the cardiac muscle, signaling the heart chambers to contract in the proper
sequence
Conducting system of the heart
aka pacemaker of the heart and initiates the heartbeat
Sinoatrial (SA) node
SA node is a small mass of specialized cardiac muscle fibers that lies in the myocardium at the
upper end of the crista terminalis near the opening of the SVC in the right atrium
SA node is supplied by the
sinus node artery
sinus node artery is a branch of the
right coronary artery
AV node lies in the
interatrial septum, superior and medial to the opening of the coronary sinus in the right atrium
AV node receives the impulse from the ____ and passes it to the _____
SA node and passes it to the AV bundle
AV node is supplied by the
AV nodal artery
AV nodal artery arises from the
right coronary artery opposite the origin of the posterior interventricular artery
AV node is innervated by the
autonomic nerve fibers, although the cardiac muscle fibers lack motor endings
Splits into right and left branches, which descend into the muscular part of the interventricular septum, and breaks up into terminal conducting fibers (Purkinje fibers) to spread out into the ventricular walls.
AV bundle (bundle of His)
AV bundle (bundle of His) begins and runs along where
at the AV node and runs along the membranous part of the interventricular septum
damage to the conducting system causes
heart block
coronary arteries arise from the
ascending aorta
coronary arteries are filled with blood during the
ventricular diastole
coronary arteries have maximale blood flow during
diastole
coronary arteries have minimal blood flow during
systole because of compression
of the arterial branches in the myocardium during systol
right coronary artery arises from the
anterior (right) aortic sinus of the ascending aorta,
right coronary artery pathway
runs between the root of the pulmonary trunk and the right auricle
right coronary artery descends in the
right coronary sulcus
right coronary artery generally supplies the
right atrium and ventricle
Passes between the right atrium and the root of the ascending aorta, encircles the base of the SVC
Sinuatrial nodal artery
Sinuatrial nodal artery supplies the
SA node and the right atrium
marginal artery pathway
Runs along the inferior border toward the apex
Runs along the inferior border toward the apex supplies the
inferior margin of the right ventricle
Is a larger terminal branch
Posterior IV (posterior descending) artery
Posterior IV (posterior descending) artery supplies
a part of the IV septum and left ventricle and the AV node