Heart Anatomy and Pericardium Overview

The inner layer of the heart, lining the chambers and valves, made of simple squamous epithelium and connective tissue.

The middle layer of the heart, composed of cardiac muscle tissue, responsible for pumping blood.

The upper chambers of the heart, receiving blood from the body (right atrium) and lungs (left atrium).

The lower chambers of the heart, pumping blood to the lungs (right ventricle) and the body (left ventricle).

Muscular ridges found in the walls of the atria, especially in the right atrium, contributing to blood flow during contraction.

A cone-shaped, muscular organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.

The protective sac surrounding the heart, composed of two layers: fibrous and serous.

The tough outer layer of the pericardium, made of dense connective tissue. It anchors the heart and prevents overfilling.

The inner layer of the pericardium, composed of two layers: parietal and visceral.

The outer layer of the serous pericardium. It lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium.

The inner layer of the serous pericardium. It adheres to the surface of the heart.

The space between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium, containing pericardial fluid, which reduces friction during heart movement.

The three layers of the heart wall: endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium.

Bands of fibrous connective tissue that separate the atria from the ventricles, preventing electrical signals from directly passing between them. This insulation allows for coordinated heart contractions.

One-way valves that prevent backflow of blood, ensuring blood flows in the correct direction through the heart chambers.

Located between the atria and ventricles, these valves open to allow blood flow from the atria to the ventricles during contraction.

The right AV valve, with three cusps, controls blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

The left AV valve, with two cusps, controls blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

Located at the exit points of the ventricles, these valves prevent backflow of blood into the ventricles.

The valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk, controlling blood flow out of the heart towards the lungs.

The valve between the left ventricle and the aorta, controlling blood flow out of the heart towards the body.

Atrioventricular valves (AV) are the valves located between the atria and ventricles of the heart, ensuring blood flows in one direction. They open when ventricular pressure is less than atrial pressure, allowing blood into the ventricle. They close when ventricular pressure is greater than atrial pressure, preventing backflow into the atria.

Semilunar valves are located at the exits of the ventricles: the aortic valve for the aorta and the pulmonary valve for the pulmonary trunk. They prevent backflow of blood into the ventricles during ventricular relaxation. They open when ventricular pressure is greater than arterial pressure, allowing blood to flow out of the ventricle.

The tricuspid valve is an atrioventricular valve located between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It has 3 flaps and is responsible for controlling blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle, preventing backflow into the right atrium and the tricuspid valves open to allow right ventricle filling.

The bicuspid valve (also called the mitral valve) is an atrioventricular valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It has two flaps and ensures blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle, preventing backflow into the left atrium.

The pulmonary valve is a semilunar valve located at the entrance of the pulmonary trunk, which carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. It prevents blood from flowing back into the right ventricle.

The heart receives approximately 250 ml of blood per minute during diastole (ventricular relaxation).

The left coronary artery (LCA) branches into the anterior interventricular artery and the circumflex artery. The right coronary artery (RCA) branches into the marginal artery and the posterior interventricular artery.

The great, middle, and small cardiac veins drain into the coronary sinus, which then empties into the right atrium. This carries deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle back to the main circulation.

Coronary circulation is the blood supply to the heart muscle itself. It is essential for providing oxygen and removing waste products.

The heart receives blood during ventricular relaxation, which is when the heart muscle is not contracting. This allows for efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium.

The anterior cardiac veins drain directly into the right atrium, contributing to the heart's blood flow.

The coronary sinus is a large vein on the posterior surface of the heart that collects blood from the heart's own blood supply and drains into the right atrium.

Angiography is a medical procedure to visualize the blood vessels, specifically the coronary arteries, by injecting a contrast dye and using X-ray imaging.

The cardiac conducting system consists of specialized heart tissue that generates and conducts electrical impulses to regulate and coordinate the heart's contractions.

The sinoatrial (SA) node, also called the pacemaker of the heart, is a group of specialized cardiac cells that initiate the electrical impulse that causes the heart to beat.

The atrioventricular (AV) node is a collection of specialized cells that delay the electrical impulse from the SA node, allowing the atria to contract before the ventricles.

The foetal circulation is the circulatory system of a developing baby in the womb, which has unique features because the baby relies on the placenta for oxygen and nutrient exchange.

The foramen ovale is a small opening between the right and left atria in a foetal heart, allowing some blood to bypass the lungs.

This structure connects the pulmonary trunk to the aorta, bypassing the pulmonary system and left side of the heart in the fetus.

This structure connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, bypassing the liver in the fetus.

This opening in the fetal heart allows blood to flow directly from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the pulmonary circulation.

The ductus arteriosus closes and becomes the ligamentum arteriosum after birth.

The foramen ovale closes and becomes the fossa ovalis after birth.