Heart

• How many chambers does the heart have?

  Four chambers
• What is the function of the right atrium?

  It receives blood from the systemic circuit
• What does the right ventricle do?

  Pumps blood into the pulmonary circuit
• What is the role of the left atrium?

  It receives blood from the pulmonary circuit
• What does the left ventricle do?

  Pumps blood into the systemic circuit
• How do the atria and ventricles contract?

  The two atria contract at the same time and the two ventricles contract at the same time
• Where is the heart located?

  In the thoracic cavity
• What is the position of the heart relative to the sternum?

  It is posterior to the sternum
• What connects at the base of the heart?

  The great vessels
• What is the apex of the heart?

  The pointed tip of the heart
• What is the mediastinum?

  The space between the two pleural cavities where the heart sits
• What surrounds the heart?

  The pericardium
• What is the function of the outer fibrous pericardium?

  It stabilizes the position of the heart and vessels
• What are the two layers of the inner serous pericardium?

  Outer parietal layer and inner visceral layer (epicardium)
• What is the pericardial cavity?

  The space between the parietal and visceral layers
• What is the function of pericardial fluid?

  It lubricates the serous layers and reduces friction
• What does the pulmonary circuit do?

  It carries blood between the heart and the gas exchange surfaces of the lungs
• What does the systemic circuit do?

  It carries blood between the heart and the tissues of the body
• What is pericarditis?

  Inflammation of the pericardium
• What sound is produced by inflamed pericardial surfaces?

  A distinctive scratching sound (friction rub)
• What is cardiac tamponade?

  Excess fluid in the pericardial cavity that restricts heart movement
• What is an auricle?

  An expandable outer extension of each atrium
• What are sulci on the heart's surface?

  Grooves that contain fat and blood vessels
• What does the coronary sulcus mark?

  The border between the atria and ventricles
• What do the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci mark?

  The boundary between the left and right ventricles
• What are the layers of the heart wall?

  Epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium
• What is the myocardium?

  The middle layer of cardiac muscle tissue
• What is the endocardium?

  The inner surface layer of the heart
• What is the function of connective tissues in the heart?

  They support cardiac muscle fibers, blood vessels, and nerves
• What is the cardiac skeleton?

  Four dense bands of tough elastic tissue that stabilize heart valves
• What separates the heart chambers?

  Muscular partitions called septa
• What are atrioventricular (AV) valves?

  Valves that prevent backflow between atria and ventricles
• What is the tricuspid valve?

  A valve between the right atrium and right ventricle with three cusps
• What is the mitral valve?

  A valve between the left atrium and left ventricle with two cusps
• What do chordae tendineae do?

  They attach the free edges of the valves to the papillary muscles
• What is the pulmonary valve?

  A valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk
• What are semilunar valves?

  Valves that prevent backflow into the ventricles
• What is the aortic valve?

  A valve between the left ventricle and the aorta
• What is valvular heart disease (VHD)?

  Deterioration of valve function that may develop after carditis
• What happens when the ventricles are relaxed?

  The tricuspid and mitral valves are open, and the aortic and pulmonary valves are closed