Cardiac Anatomy and Auscultation

Central compartment in the thorax.

Outer layer of fibrous connective tissue that acts as a protective membrane, preventing over distention & anchoring the heart in the chest.

Outer layer of pericardial cavity/space; fused to the fibrous pericardium

Inner layer of pericardial cavity/space, adheres to the heart and forms its outer covering (epicardium). Attaches to myocardium or heart muscle.

Dense irregular connective tissue. Fibrous skeleton surrounds heart valves, provides annulus of each valve, anchors each valve in place, & separates muscle mass of atria & ventricles. Electricity cannot pass through it.

Area on posterior wall where the coronary and interventricular sulcus meet on the posterior wall. Coronary artery that passes this point & descends as the PDA is the dominant coronary.

Septum (small indentation between RA & LA where FO used to be), probe patent in 10-20% of the population (potential for air embolus if RA pressure > LA pressure).

Supplies RA & RV, SA & AV nodes, interatrial septum, posterior 1/3 of the interventricular septum, & portion of inferior wall of LV.

Most of the LA & LV, 2/3 of the interventricular septum, AV bundle & its branches.

Posterior 1/3 of septum (posterior interventricular septum)

Junction of RA & SVC

Spontaneous

Ability to auto-regulate coronary perfusion is lost beyond an obstruction.

Potentially occurs when a vasodilator is administered, normal coronary arteries dilate but coronaries with CAD cannot, blood is then diverted from the "ischemic zone" to "normal" tissue.

Force expiration against a closed glottis (↑ intrathoracic pressure, ↑ CVP,↓ venous return).