ANATOMY

• The heart is located within the thoracic cavity, medially between the lungs in the space known as the


  mediastinum
• The heart is more prominent on the

  right side
• It is separated from the other mediastinal structures by a tough membrane known as the ___ and sits in its own space called the ___.

  pericardium, pericardial cavity
• The heart is protected by the ___, which is important because the heart is in close proximity to the lungs and constantly expands and contracts.

  pericardium
• If the heart has no covering, there would be friction between the organs, leading to ___


  inflammation
• The pericardial cavity contains ___, which helps maintain the smooth ___ of the heart.


  pericardial fluid, contraction
• The ___ side of the heart is deflected anteriorly, and the ___ side is deflected posteriorly.

  right, left
• The ___ of the heart refers to its superior surface, while the ___ is the inferior tip of the heart.


  base, apex
• Heart Anatomy

  A) Aorta

  B) Right Atrium

  C) Pulmonic Valve

  D) Tricuspid Valve

  E) Right Ventricle

  F) Left Ventricle

  G) Aortic Valve

  H) Mitral Valve

  I) Left Atrium

  J) Pulmonary Artery

  K) Superior Vena Cava

  L) Inferior Vena Cava

  
• The upper chambers of the heart are the ___, while the lower chambers are the ___


  atria, ventricles
• The right atrium receives ___ blood primarily from the body's great vessels: the ___, which collects blood from the upper extremities, and the ___, which collects blood from the lower extremities.


  deoxygenated, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava
• The ___ serves as the passageway for blood flowing from the right atrium to the right ventricle.


  tricuspid valve
• The ___ allows blood to pass from the right ventricle to the lungs via the pulmonary artery.

  pulmonic valve
• Veins carry deoxygenated blood, which appears bluish in cadavers, while arteries carry oxygenated blood, which appears reddish in cadavers.
• Exception in pulmonary vessels:

  • The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
  • Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood, oxygenating it.
  • The oxygenated blood then returns to the heart via the pulmonary vein.
  • Overall:
  • Pulmonary artery = deoxygenated blood.
  • Pulmonary vein = oxygenated blood.
• Umbilical artery carries deoxygenated blood.

  Umbilical vein carries oxygenated blood.
• Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary vein, returning to the heart.
• Bicuspid/Mitral Valve: Allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
• Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the systemic circulation through the aorta, but first passes through the aortic valve.
• Aortic Valve: Serves as the passageway for blood from the left ventricle to the aorta.
• Aorta: Distributes oxygenated blood to various parts of the body.
• Atrioventricular valves are valves that can be seen between the atria and the ventricles

  • Tricuspid - located on the right side
  • Mitral - located on the left side
• Atrioventricular valves contains

  • Cusps - Flexible flaps of endocardium reinforced with connective tissue (opens and closes)
• Papillary muscles contract, pulling on the chordae tendineae, which causes the cusps of the atrioventricular valves to open. 
• • Semilunar Valves:
  • Pulmonary Valve: Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
• Coronary Arteries

  A) Right Coronary Artery

  B) Left Coronary Artery

  C) Left Circumflex Artery

  D) Left Anterior Descending Artery

  
• Right Coronary Artery: Supplies the right atrium and ventricle, as well as some parts of the back of the heart.
• Left Coronary Artery: Divides into two branches
• Three layers of heart

  • Endocardium
  • Myocardium
  • Epicardium
• Myocardium contains intercalated discs
• Myocardium:

  • Striated
  • Shorter than skeletal muscles
  • Contain one nucleus
  • Branched
  • Intercalated discs
  • Syncytium - functional unit of contraction (due to the presence of gap junctions)
• Chordae tendineae - Collagen cords that anchor the cusps to the papillary muscles
• Papillary muscles - nipple-like structures that protrude from the ventricular walls into the ventricular cavity
• Aortic Valve is a valve located between the left ventricle and aorta
• Left Anterior Descending Artery: Located on the front (anterior) side, it supplies the left ventricle and the anterior part of the heart.
• Left Circumflex Artery: Located on the far left side, it supplies parts of the left atrium, left ventricle, and some areas of the back left side of the heart.
• Capillary and venule = Very thin walls, allowing efficient diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Capillaries are the primary site of exchange due to their thin endothelial layer.
• Terminal arteriole = Contains more smooth muscle compared to capillaries, which allows it to vasoconstrict and regulate blood flow into capillaries.
• Capillary = Has the smallest diameter, facilitating the exchange of gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide), nutrients, and waste products between the blood and tissues.
• Vena cava = Has the largest diameter among blood vessels, allowing for the return of large volumes of blood to the heart.