Vessels of the heart Flashcards
What are the major vessels of the heart?
The major vessels are the aorta, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins.
What is the function of the aorta?
The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.
Where does the superior vena cava carry blood?
The superior vena cava carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium.
Where does the inferior vena cava carry blood?
The inferior vena cava carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium.
What is the function of pulmonary arteries?
Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.
What is the function of pulmonary veins?
Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
What are coronary arteries?
Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.
What are the two main branches of the left coronary artery?
The left anterior descending (LAD) artery and the circumflex artery.
What area of the heart does the LAD artery supply?
The LAD artery supplies the front and bottom of the left ventricle and the front of the septum.
What is the function of the circumflex artery?
The circumflex artery supplies oxygenated blood to the left atrium and the side and back of the left ventricle.
What does the right coronary artery (RCA) supply?
The RCA supplies oxygenated blood to the right atrium, right ventricle, and portions of both ventricles and the septum.
What is the coronary sinus?
The coronary sinus is a large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle and returns it to the right atrium.
Where is the coronary sinus located?
It is located on the posterior aspect of the heart, running along the atrioventricular groove.
What is the difference between pulmonary and systemic circulation?
Pulmonary circulation moves blood between the heart and lungs, while systemic circulation moves blood between the heart and the rest of the body.
What vessel carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs?
The pulmonary artery.
What is the function of the vena cava?
The vena cava returns deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium.
What vessels bring blood into the right atrium?
The superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and coronary sinus
What happens to blood in the pulmonary capillaries?
Blood receives oxygen and releases carbon dioxide in the pulmonary capillaries.
Which vessels are responsible for oxygenating the heart muscle?
The coronary arteries.
What is the primary role of the great cardiac vein?
The great cardiac vein collects deoxygenated blood from the front of the heart and empties into the coronary sinus.
What is the name of the artery that supplies the right ventricle and part of the left ventricle?
The posterior descending artery (PDA).
Which vessel supplies the right atrium with oxygenated blood?
None. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body.