Anatomy of the Heart and Lungs

20 Questions

Where does the superior mediastinum extend to?

Superior thoracic aperture

What structures are found in the superior mediastinum?

Great vessels, trachea, oesophagus

Where is the inferior mediastinum located?

Extends downwards, terminating at the diaphragm

What is found in the posterior superior mediastinum?

Thoracic duct, thymus, vagus and phrenic nerves

Which chamber of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body?

Right atrium (RA)

Where is the location of the cardiac plexus?

Anterior to the bifurcation of the trachea

Which artery primarily supplies the SA node and AV node?

Right coronary artery (RCA)

What is responsible for controlling the heart's rate of firing?

SA node

Which structure is part of the heart's conduction system?

Purkinje fibres

Which muscle separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?

Rectus abdominis

Which nerve is at risk of damage during radical mastectomy, leading to winging of the scapula?

Long thoracic nerve (C5,6,7)

Which nerve provides sympathetic innervation to the head, neck, upper extremity, and a portion of the upper thorax?

Stellate ganglion

Which structure marks the beginning of the tracheobronchial tree?

Trachea

Where does a pleural effusion appear on an X-ray?

Blunted costophrenic angle

Which muscle lies in the intercostal spaces between the ribs and is organized into three layers?

External intercostal

Which structure provides sympathetic innervation to the thorax and abdomen?

Sympathetic chain ganglia (T1 –L2)

What lies anterior to vertebrae L5 - T12 and posterior to the pericardium?

Posterior mediastinum

Which division of bronchi receives its own air and blood supply?

Bronchopulmonary segment

Where do the bronchioles further divide into alveoli?

Respiratory bronchioles

What is an important muscle for respiration?

Diaphragm

Study Notes

The heart is a muscular organ located in the middle mediastinum, surrounded by the pericardium.
Upper right side of the heart is attached to the 3rd costal cartilage, lower right side to the 6th costal cartilage, upper left side to the left 2nd costal cartilage, and lower left side to the 5th intercostal space.
The heart contains four chambers: right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), and left ventricle (LV).
The heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior vena cava (SVC), which leads to the right atrium, and oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary artery to the right atrium.
The heart pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary trunk from the right ventricle through the pulmonary valve and to the aorta from the left ventricle through the aortic valve.
The heart has internal structures, including the sinoatrial (SA) node, the atrioventricular (AV) node, the atrioventricular bundle (Bundle of His), the AV bundle branches, and the Purkinje fibres, which are part of the cardiac conduction system, responsible for the heart's electrical activity.
The heart is innervated by the cardiac plexus, which is located anterior to the bifurcation of the trachea and posterior to the arch of the aorta. The plexus contains parasympathetic, sympathetic, and general visceral afferents (GVA).
The heart has a complex blood supply system, with coronary arteries, which are the right coronary artery (RCA), left coronary artery (LCA), and their branches.
The conduction system of the heart is primarily supplied by the RCA for the SA node and the AV node, and the interventricular (descending) arteries for the bundle branches.
The heart's electrical activity is controlled by the SA node, which generates 70-80 pulses per minute, and the AV node, which acts as a pacemaker when the SA node is inactive.
The heart is innervated by both parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves. Parasympathetic nerves decrease the heart's rate of firing, while sympathetic nerves increase it, and both types of nerves travel in the same tract in the spinal cord.
The heart has two main coronary arteries: the RCA and LCA. The RCA supplies the SA node, AV node, and right side of the heart, while the LCA supplies the left side of the heart, including the mitral valve.
The heart's valves include the tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary, and aortic valves. These valves prevent the backflow of blood from the aorta and pulmonary trunk into the ventricles.
The SA node generates electrical impulses, which travel through the atria, pause at the AV node, and then travel through the atrioventricular bundle (Bundle of His) and AV bundle branches to the ventricles, stimulating the contractile cells with the help of the Purkinje fibres.
The heart's electrical activity can be affected by disorders such as myocardial infarction, which can damage the heart's conduction system and lead to arrhythmias.

Test your knowledge of the anatomy of the heart, lungs, and thorax with this quiz. Learn about the surface anatomy landmarks, divisions of the mediastinum, circulation of blood, functional anatomy of the pleurae, and related pathologies.

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