CVS anatomy

• The Thorax:

  1. Right pleural cavity

  2. Left pleural cavity

  3. Mediastinum (space between two plural cavities- where the heart is)
• Pericarditis= inflammation of pericardium
• In constrictive pericarditis the JVP does not decrease on inspiration
• Pericardial effusion that leads to reduced cardiac output is a cardiac tamponade
• Becks triad (cardiac tamponade) = increased JVP, low BP and muffled heart sounds
• The pericardium consists of the visceral layer, pericardial cavity, parietal layer and fibrous layer
• The fibrous pericardium fixes to the chest wall and diaphragm
• Vena cava passes through the diaphragm at T8

  Oesophagus passes through the diaphragm at T10

  Aorta passes behind diaphragm at T12
• The mediastinum consists of the superior and inferior mediastinum
• The inferior mediastinum is made up of the anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum
• Structure of AV valves:

  1. Trabeculae
  2. Papillary muscle
  3. Chordae tendineae
  4. Valve cusp
• A transmural MI leads to the death of papillary muscle
• The thoracic plane is between the superior and inferior mediastinum

  External landmark is the sternal angle
• The endocardium is the lining inside the heart and consists of nerves, purkinje fibres and endothelial cells
• A subendocardial MI will lead to ST depression on an ECG
• A transmural MI will lead to ST elevation on an ECG and long term Q wave changes
• Coronary arteries arise from the aortic sinuses at the beginning of the ascending aorta

  They supply the myocardial cells with oxygenated blood during diastole
• The right coronary artery is inferior/inferolateral and inferoposterior
• Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery is septal and anterior
• Cardiac veins collect to drain into the right atrium via a single posterior coronary sinus