Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the superior portion of the heart where major blood vessels enter and exit called?
What is the superior portion of the heart where major blood vessels enter and exit called?
base
What is the inferior point of the heart called?
What is the inferior point of the heart called?
apex
Describe the location and position of the heart.
Describe the location and position of the heart.
the heart is located near the anterior chest wall, directly behind the sternum
Compare the base of the heart with the apex.
Compare the base of the heart with the apex.
Name the four chambers of the heart.
Name the four chambers of the heart.
Which heart chamber receives blood from the lungs?
Which heart chamber receives blood from the lungs?
Most of the mass of the heart lies to the _____ the midline.
Most of the mass of the heart lies to the _____ the midline.
What is the cavity that contains only the heart called?
What is the cavity that contains only the heart called?
What is the term for the entire space between the pleural cavities containing only the heart, great vessels, thymus, trachea, and esophagus?
What is the term for the entire space between the pleural cavities containing only the heart, great vessels, thymus, trachea, and esophagus?
What primarily composes the middle layer in the heart wall?
What primarily composes the middle layer in the heart wall?
What lines the chambers of the heart and covers the heart valves?
What lines the chambers of the heart and covers the heart valves?
What is the visceral pericardium also known as?
What is the visceral pericardium also known as?
Why is it important that cardiac tissue contains many mitochondria and capillaries?
Why is it important that cardiac tissue contains many mitochondria and capillaries?
What does the coronary sulcus mark?
What does the coronary sulcus mark?
How many pulmonary veins are there?
How many pulmonary veins are there?
Which two chambers dominate the anterior view of the heart?
Which two chambers dominate the anterior view of the heart?
How is blood supplied to the myocardium?
How is blood supplied to the myocardium?
What are the first blood vessels that branch from the aorta?
What are the first blood vessels that branch from the aorta?
Where do coronary veins empty into?
Where do coronary veins empty into?
In which direction do the atrioventricular valves permit blood flow?
In which direction do the atrioventricular valves permit blood flow?
How does blood leave the right ventricle?
How does blood leave the right ventricle?
What do the cusps of the atrioventricular valves attach to?
What do the cusps of the atrioventricular valves attach to?
What valve does blood flow through after entering the heart from the venae cavae?
What valve does blood flow through after entering the heart from the venae cavae?
Compared to the right ventricle, what unique characteristic does the left ventricle have?
Compared to the right ventricle, what unique characteristic does the left ventricle have?
What does the pulmonary semilunar valve prevent?
What does the pulmonary semilunar valve prevent?
Where is the bicuspid, or mitral valve located?
Where is the bicuspid, or mitral valve located?
What are the alternate terms for heart contraction and heart relaxation?
What are the alternate terms for heart contraction and heart relaxation?
When is the first heart sound heard?
When is the first heart sound heard?
During the isovolumetric contraction phase of ventricular systole, what valves are closed?
During the isovolumetric contraction phase of ventricular systole, what valves are closed?
Which valve opens when left ventricular pressure exceeds aortic blood pressure?
Which valve opens when left ventricular pressure exceeds aortic blood pressure?
Where is the normal pacemaker of the heart located?
Where is the normal pacemaker of the heart located?
Define autorhythmicity.
Define autorhythmicity.
What does the P wave of the electrocardiogram signal?
What does the P wave of the electrocardiogram signal?
What does the T wave on an ECG tracing represent?
What does the T wave on an ECG tracing represent?
What is the term for a faster-than-normal heart rate?
What is the term for a faster-than-normal heart rate?
What is the term for a slower-than-normal heart rate?
What is the term for a slower-than-normal heart rate?
Depolarization of the atria corresponds to which ECG wave?
Depolarization of the atria corresponds to which ECG wave?
Depolarization of the ventricles is represented on an electrocardiogram by which complex?
Depolarization of the ventricles is represented on an electrocardiogram by which complex?
What structure of the heart contains the largest veins and arteries?
What structure of the heart contains the largest veins and arteries?
How are cardiac muscle cells interconnected?
How are cardiac muscle cells interconnected?
What part of the heart does blood returning from the pulmonary circuit first enter?
What part of the heart does blood returning from the pulmonary circuit first enter?
From superficial to deep, name the layers of the heart wall.
From superficial to deep, name the layers of the heart wall.
The right atrium receives blood from all of the following EXCEPT which structure?
The right atrium receives blood from all of the following EXCEPT which structure?
Study Notes
Heart Anatomy Overview
- The heart's base is the superior area where major blood vessels exit and enter.
- The apex is the inferior tip of the heart.
- Located near the anterior chest wall and directly behind the sternum.
Heart Structure
- The heart consists of four chambers: left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle.
- The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
- Most of the heart's mass lies left of the midline.
Heart Enclosure
- The heart is enclosed in the pericardial cavity.
- The mediastinum contains the heart along with major vessels, thymus, trachea, and esophagus.
Heart Wall Composition
- The middle layer of the heart wall is primarily made of cardiac muscle cells.
- Endocardium lines the heart chambers and covers valves, continuous with the vascular endothelium.
- Visceral pericardium is synonymously termed the epicardium.
Cardiac Physiology
- Cardiac tissue has abundant mitochondria and capillaries for aerobic respiration and energy supply.
- Blood is supplied to the myocardium via coronary arteries; these first branch from the aorta.
- Coronary veins return blood to the right atrium.
Blood Flow Dynamics
- Atrioventricular valves ensure blood flows in one direction only.
- Blood exits the right ventricle through the pulmonary valve.
- Chordae tendineae connect the cusps of the atrioventricular valves to prevent backflow.
Heart Valves
- Blood from the superior and inferior vena cavae flows into the right atrium through the tricuspid valve.
- The bicuspid (mitral) valve is situated between the left atrium and left ventricle.
- The aortic valve opens when left ventricular pressure surpasses aortic blood pressure.
Cardiac Cycle
- Heart contraction is known as systole; relaxation is termed diastole.
- The first heart sound occurs when AV valves close.
- During isovolumetric contraction, both atrioventricular and semilunar valves are closed.
Electrical Activity
- The sinoatrial node is the natural pacemaker responsible for heart rhythm.
- Autorhythmicity refers to the heart's ability to contract independently of external inputs.
- The P wave on an ECG represents atrial depolarization, while the T wave indicates ventricular repolarization.
Heart Rate Variations
- Tachycardia identifies a fast heart rate, while bradycardia indicates a slow heart rate.
ECG and Heart Structures
- Depolarization of the ventricles is represented by the QRS complex on an electrocardiogram.
- The right atrium receives venous return from various sources, excluding the pulmonary veins.
Heart Wall Layers
- From superficial to deep, heart wall layers are pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the heart's anatomy with these flashcards. This quiz focuses on the base and apex of the heart, as well as its general location and position. Perfect for students studying anatomy or preparing for exams.
