Cardiovascular Anatomy-01

Question 1

where is the heart located?

Answer 1

in the middle of the mediastinum and surrounded by the pericardium

Question 2

apex of the heart

Answer 2

tip of the heart formed by the left ventricle and the most inferior surface

Question 3

base of the heart

Answer 3

broader area of the heart where great vessels arise from

Question 4

what are some major landmarks of the heart?

Answer 4

SVC, IVC, pulmonary trunk, aorta

Question 5

structures superior to the heart/in superior mediastinum

Answer 5

aortic arch, esophagus, trachea

Question 6

structures anterior to the heart/in the anterior mediastinum

Answer 6

thymus gland, sternebrae

Question 7

structures posterior to the heart/in posterior mediastinum

Answer 7

descending aorta, esophagus, lymph nodes, vagus nerve, thoracic duct

Question 8

structures in the middle mediastinum

Answer 8

ascending aorta, pulmonary trunk, phrenic nerves

Question 9

anterior surface features

Answer 9

RV most prominent, RA has an associated auricle to accommodate more blood; LV off to side and tip forms apex, LA + associated auricle tucked in behind heart; SVC & IVC drain deoxygenated blood from body, ascending aorta continues as aortic arch behind heart to become descending thoracic aorta, pulm. trunk delivers de-O2 blood to lungs

Question 10

posterior surface features

Answer 10

LA most prominent (vessels entering are pulm. veins), left ventricular wall + some of RA slightly visible, SVC/IVC quite indistinguishable from RA

Question 11

sulci of the heart

Answer 11

grooves where coronary BV sit as protection from heart moves against pericardium, fat pads also provide added protection

Question 12

coronary sulci

Answer 12

left and right sulci between the atria and ventricles

Question 13

interventricular (IV) sulci

Answer 13

anterior and posterior sulci occurring between the ventricles

Question 14

what do coronary arteries do and where are they located?

Answer 14

supply blood to the heart muscle itself; L and R coronary arteries come off the base of the ascending aorta

Question 15

what does the left coronary artery branch off into?

Answer 15

it bifurcates past the pulm. trunk to become the circumflex artery going through the coronary sulcus and the LAD artery going through the IV sulcus

Question 16

what does the right coronary artery branch off into?

Answer 16

it starts in the coronary sulcus and curls around the back of the heart to get to the right IV sulcus as the posterior IV artery, and laterally down the right side as the marginal artery

Question 17

what is the main left coronary vein?

Answer 17

great cardiac vein

Question 18

what are the right coronary veins?

Answer 18

small, anterior, and middle cardiac veins

Question 19

what is the coronary sinus?

Answer 19

a dilated vessel on the posterior aspect of the heart that empties blood into the right atrium

Question 20

which vessels empty into the coronary sinus?

Answer 20

great, small and middle cardiac veins; the anterior cardiac vein dumps blood directly into the RA via a hole

Question 21

what does the pericardium consist of?

Answer 21

fibrous pericardium (irregular dense CT), parietal pericardium and visceral pericardium (thin epithelia layer secreting serous fluid)

Question 22

cardiac tamponade

Answer 22

acute compression of the heart due to the accumulation of fluid within the pericardial cavity, excess fluid can be drained with a needle

Question 23

what are the layers of the heart wall from superficial to deep?

Answer 23

epicardium, myocardium and endocardium

Question 24

what is the difference b/w the L & R ventricle?

Answer 24

LV: cylindrical/conical shape, heart wall is thick b/c lots of pressure needs to be generated to pump blood to every tissue of the body
RV: half moon shape, has a thinner wall b/c less pressure needs to be generated (only sends blood to the lungs which have little vascular resistance)

Question 25

inflammation of the heart can occur as:

Answer 25

epicarditis (pericarditis), myocarditis, endocarditis

Question 26

epicarditis

Answer 26

inflammation of the epicardium (outer lining of the heart) caused by fluid/pus accumulation

Question 27

myocarditis

Answer 27

caused by viral infection, rheumatic fever, radiation or meds

Question 28

endocarditis

Answer 28

often bacterial and affects heart valves, fatal if left untreated

Question 29

path of blood flow in the heart

Answer 29

2 closed circuits. systemic circuit carries oxygenated blood in the left side of the heart and in the arteries, pulmonary circuit carries deoxygenated blood in the right side and in veins to the lungs

Question 30

what is the function of heart valves?

Answer 30

to ensure blood flows in one direction (can be useful when applying cardiac compressions

Question 31

AV valves

Answer 31

tricuspid and bicuspid (mitral) valves, have cusps/leaflets; chordae tendinae attach to papillary muscles (sub-valvular apparatus) — provide tension to prevent AV valve prolapse

Question 32

how do the AV valves open?

Answer 32

When the pressure of the blood in the atria becomes higher than the pressure inside the ventricles

Question 33

semilunar valves

Answer 33

aortic and pulmonary SL valves, 3 semilunar leaflets and C-shaped cusps that capture the blood to prev. backflow into ventricle, also causes them to close

Question 34

how do the semilunar valves open?

Answer 34

when the ventricular pressure is higher than the pulmonary trunk and aorta pressure (no sub-valvular apparatus)

Question 35

fibrous skeleton

Answer 35

made of collagen fibres that become dense around the cusps of valves and form annular rings

Question 36

what are the 4 functions of the fibrous skeleton?

Answer 36

provide structural foundation for heart valves, maintains valve diameter (prevents overstretching), attachment site for muscle fibers, electrically separates the atria from the ventricles

Question 37

how are heart sounds auscultated?

Answer 37

heard at locations that do not correspond to where the valves are located; stethoscope should be placed away from the heart in the direction sound waves travel from a valve when it closes

Question 38

what is represented by the lub-dub sound?

Answer 38

Lub → AV valves closing | Dub → ventricular relaxation (SL valves go)

Question 39

where is the aortic SL valve sound heard?

Answer 39

2nd intercostal space (right)

Question 40

where is the pulmonary SL valve sound heard?

Answer 40

2nd intercostal space (left)

Question 41

where is the bicuspid valve sound heard?

Answer 41

5th intercostal space (left)

Question 42

where is the tricuspid valve sound heard?

Answer 42

left lower sternal border (LLSB)

Question 43

heart valve stenosis

Answer 43

cusps or flaps of heart valve are too stiff and unable to open fully, making it difficult for blood to flow through; narrowing

Question 44

what valves are affected by stenosis?

Answer 44

aortic (common wear and tear), pulmonic (developmental issues in infants), mitral (most common)

Question 45

heart valve prolapse

Answer 45

heart valve cusps are insufficient/incompetent, allowing blood to flow backward (regurgitation) through valve when heart chamber contracts; most commonly occurs in mitral valve and is hear as a murmur ("whoosh")