Cardiovascular system Flashcards
(165 cards)
What surrounds the heart?
A fluid-filled sac called the pericardium surrounds the heart.
What is the function of the fluid within the pericardium?
The fluid acts as a shock absorber for the heart.
What are the two layers of the pericardium?
The serous (inner) layer and the fibrous (outer) layer.
How does the fibrous layer of the pericardium interact with the diaphragm?
It is attached to the diaphragm, allowing the heart to move during breathing (e.g., contraction of the diaphragm).
What is cardiac tamponade?
It occurs when the fibrous layer ruptures, increasing the fluid in the pericardium and causing pressure on the heart muscle.
What are the three layers of the heart wall?
The epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium.
What is the epicardium?
It is the outer layer of connective tissue that attaches to the serous layer of the pericardium.
What is the myocardium, and why is it important?
The myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart, consisting of cardiac muscle, blood vessels, and nerve fibers.
What is the endocardium?
The endocardium is a layer of connective tissue and endothelial cells on the inside of the heart.
How is blood supplied to the heart?
Blood is supplied by the left and right coronary arteries, which supply the left and right sides of the heart, respectively.
What happens if the coronary arteries are occluded?
Occlusion leads to reduced blood flow to the heart, which can result in angina pectoris and/or myocardial infarction.
Why is the extent and duration of coronary artery occlusion important?
It determines the extent of damage to cardiac tissue.
How many chambers does the heart have, and what are they called?
The heart consists of four main chambers:
Left atrium
Right atrium
Left ventricle
Right ventricle
Where are the left and right atria located in the heart?
The left and right atria are situated in the upper left and right portions of the heart.
Where are the left and right ventricles located in the heart?
The left and right ventricles are situated in the lower left and right portions of the heart.
What separates the left and right atria?
The left and right atria are separated by a thin muscular wall called the interatrial septum.
What separates the left and right ventricles?
The left and right ventricles are separated by the interventricular septum.
What is the purpose of the interatrial and interventricular septa?
These walls ensure that blood cannot move between the two atria or the two ventricles.
What is the role of the left atrium and left ventricle in circulation?
They act as a single pump, draining blood into the aorta and providing blood to the systemic circulation.
What is the role of the right atrium and right ventricle in circulation?
They act as a single pump, draining blood into the pulmonary artery and providing blood to the pulmonary circulation.
Why can blood not move freely between the left atrium and left ventricle or the right atrium and right ventricle?
Because of the existence of valves, which ensure unidirectional blood flow.
What is the function of heart valves?
Heart valves ensure that blood can only flow in one direction.
What is the name of the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle?
The tricuspid valve.
What is the name of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle?
The bicuspid valve or mitral valve.