Ventricles

Question 1

Describe the ventricles

Answer 1

Thick walled muscular chambers which propel blood around the pulmonary and systemic circulatory systems

Question 2

How are the muscles fibres arranged in the ventricles?

Answer 2

Arranged so that ventricular contraction progresses upwards in a spiral from the apex of the heart towards the vessels leading out of the ventricles

Question 3

What are papillary muscles?

Answer 3

Extensions of the muscle of the ventricular wall in both the left and right ventricles

Question 4

What are the papillary muscles attached to?

Answer 4

Mitral and tricuspid valves via the inextensible papillary tendons

Question 5

What is an example of papillary tendons?

Answer 5

Chordae tendinae

Question 6

What happens to the papillary muscles during systole?

Answer 6

They contact and prevent the valves from inverting as a result of the high pressures created in the contracting ventricle

Question 7

What are the structures in the right ventricle?

Answer 7

Atrioventricular orifice, AV valve, chordae tendineae, concussion arteriosus, interventricular groove, interventricular septum, moderator band, papillary muscles, pulmonary valve and trabecular carneae

Question 8

Describe the chordae tendineae (tendinous chords)

Answer 8

Commonly referred to as heart strings, they attach to the cusps of the atrioventricular valves and to the papillary muscles of the ventricle. They act to hold the valves in place and prevent reflux

Question 9

Describe the arteriosus

Answer 9

The anterosuperior region of the right ventricle from which the pulmonary trunk arises

Question 10

Describe the moderator band

Answer 10

A thick muscular structure that arises from the interventricular septum and ends at the right anterior papillary muscle. It acts as a shortcut for electric impulses from the right bundle tract

Question 11

Describe papillary muscles (nipple like)

Answer 11

These muscles extend from the ventricular walls and are attached to the chordae tendineae

Question 12

Describe the pulmonary valve

Answer 12

A semilunar valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk

Question 13

Describe the trabeculae carneae

Answer 13

Are irregular muscular columns found on the internal surface of the ventricles

Question 14

What are the features in the left ventricle?

Answer 14

Aortic valve, atrioventricular orifice, bicuspid valve, chordae tendineae, interventricular groove, interventricular septum, papillary muscles, trabeculae carnea

Question 15

Describe the aortic valve

Answer 15

A semilunar valve between the left ventricle and the aorta