Heart Anatomy Flashcards

Heart Anatomy Terms

• Anterior: Refers to the front side of the heart.
• Posterior: Indicates the back side of the heart.
• Base: The broad upper part of the heart where major blood vessels attach.
• Apex: The pointed lower part of the heart, directed toward the left side.

Coronary Circulation

• Coronary Arteries: Supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.
• Coronary Veins: Drain deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle back to the right atrium.

Heart Chambers and Valves

• Auricle: Flap-like structure that increases the volume of the atria.
• Pulmonary Trunk: Large vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
• Tricuspid Valve: Valve between the right atrium and right ventricle; prevents backflow of blood.
• Bicuspid Valve (Mitral Valve): Connects the left atrium to the left ventricle; prevents backflow into the atrium.

Structural Features

• Chordae Tendineae: Tendon-like cords that anchor the heart valves.
• Papillary Muscles: Muscle projections that contract to tighten chordae tendineae and stabilize valves.
• Interventricular Septum: Thick wall separating the left and right ventricles.
• Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body via superior and inferior vena cava.
• Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via pulmonary veins.

Ventricles

• Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary trunk.
• Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta.

Other Terminology

• Trabeculae Carneae: Muscular ridges on the ventricular walls that support heart function.
• Aorta: Major artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
• Aortic Semilunar Valve: Opens to allow blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.
• Superior Vena Cava: Returns deoxygenated blood from the head, arms, and upper body to the right atrium.
• Inferior Vena Cava: Returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Coronary Arteries and Veins

• Left Coronary Artery: Branches off the aorta; supplies blood to the left side of the heart.
• Great Cardiac Vein: Drains blood from the anterior part of the heart into the coronary sinus.
• Middle Cardiac Vein: Drains blood from the posterior part of the heart; lies in the posterior interventricular sulcus.
• Small Cardiac Vein: Drains the right atrium and ventricle; located between the great and middle cardiac veins.

Fetal Structures and Changes

• Foramen Ovale: Opening between the right and left atria in fetal development; closes at birth to form the fossa ovalis.
• Fossa Ovalis: Remnant of the foramen ovale; a shallow depression in the interatrial septum.

Positioning and Features on Models

• Coronary Sulcus: A groove that marks the division between atria and ventricles.
• Interatrial Septum: Wall that divides the left and right atria.
• Anterior/Posterior Interventricular Sulcus: Grooves indicating the division of ventricles.

Additional Structures

• Ligamentum Arteriosum: Remnant of the ductus arteriosus linking the aorta and pulmonary trunk in fetal circulation.
• Pectinate Muscle: Muscles found in the walls of the atria that aid in contraction.

Key Vessel Functions

• Pulmonary Arteries: Branch from the pulmonary trunk; carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• Pulmonary Veins: Return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

These notes cover essential anatomical terms, structural features, circulatory pathways, and embryonic development related to the heart.