1 Heart

• What type of organ is the heart?

  Four-chambered muscular organ
• What is the primary function of the heart?

  Pumps blood through the blood vessels
• How many layers compose the wall of the heart?

  Three layers of tissue
• What is the middle layer of the heart wall composed of?

  Cardiac muscle
• What surrounds the heart?

  Pericardium
• What is the function of the pericardium?

  Anchors the heart in the mediastinum
• What is the right side of the heart responsible for?

  Pumping blood through pulmonary circulation
• What does the left side of the heart pump blood to?

  Remaining tissues of the body
• What are the main functions of the heart?

  • Generating blood pressure
  • Routing blood between circulations
  • Ensuring one-way blood flow
  • Regulating blood supply based on needs
• What is the approximate size of an adult heart?

  About the size of a closed fist
• What is the apex of the heart?

  Blunt rounded point of cone
• Where is the heart located?

  In the thoracic cavity in mediastinum
• Why is the heart's location clinically important?

  For stethoscope use, ECG, CPR
• How is the heart positioned in the mediastinum?

  Apex directed to the left
• What are the two layers of the pericardium?

  Fibrous and serous pericardium
• What is the function of the fibrous pericardium?

  Prevents overdistention and acts as anchor
• What is the serous pericardium composed of?

  Simple squamous epithelium
• What are the two parts of the serous pericardium?

  Parietal and visceral pericardium
• What is found between the parietal and visceral pericardium?

  Pericardial cavity filled with fluid
• What are the three layers of the heart wall?

  Epicardium, myocardium, endocardium

  
• What is the function of the myocardium?

  Responsible for heart contracting
• What are pectinate muscles?

  Muscular ridges in auricles and right atrial wall
• What are trabeculae carneae?

  Muscular ridges and columns in ventricles
• What are the main external structures of the heart?

  • Two atria
  • Two ventricles
  • Auricles (extensions of atria)
• How does blood enter the heart?

  Through superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary veins
• How does blood leave the ventricles?

  Through pulmonary trunk and aorta
• What are the surface grooves of the heart?

  Coronary sulcus, anterior and posterior interventricular sulci
• What is the left coronary artery's function?

  Supplies anterior heart
• What does the right coronary artery supply?

  Lateral wall of right ventricle
• What is the role of the coronary sinus?

  Drains blood into the right atrium
• How does blood flow through the coronary circulation?

  Not continuous; vessels compressed during contraction
• What are the major openings in the right atrium?

  • Superior vena cava
  • Inferior vena cava
  • Coronary sinus
• What are the major openings in the left atrium?

  • Four pulmonary veins
• What is the interatrial septum?

  Wall between the atria
• What is the function of the atrioventricular canals?

  Openings between atria and respective ventricles
• What does the right ventricle open to?

  Opens to pulmonary trunk
• What does the left ventricle open to?

  Opens to aorta
• What is the interventricular septum?

  Wall between the ventricles
• What are the two types of heart valves?

  • Atrioventricular valves (AV valves)
  • Semilunar valves

  
• How are the AV valves structured?

  Leaf-like cusps attached to papillary muscles