Heart Structure and Function

Study Notes

Heart Structure and Function

Superior vena cava and inferior vena cava: Two vessels returning blood to the right atrium.
Pulmonary veins: Carry blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Right ventricle: Thinner-walled than the left ventricle.
Pericardium: Encases the heart, protecting it from trauma and infection. Parts include parietal, visceral, and pericardial fluid.
Heart layers: Epicardium (outermost), myocardium (middle, thickest, muscle layer), endocardium (inner lining).
Endocardium: Inner lining of the heart wall, made of endothelium and connective tissue.
Fibrous pericardium: Tough outer connective tissue sheath surrounding the heart.
Parietal pericardium: Inner lining of the fibrous pericardium.
Serous pericardium/fluid: Reduces friction between the outer surface of the heart and the pericardium.
Heart valves: Control blood flow from one heart chamber to another, preventing backflow.
Heart chambers: Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava; right ventricle receives and pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery; left atrium receives oxygenated blood from pulmonary veins; left ventricle receives and pumps blood to the rest of the body via the aorta.
Semilunar valves: Prevent backflow into the ventricles during relaxation. These include: Pulmonary semilunar valve, Aortic semilunar valve.
Atrioventricular (AV) valves: Prevent backflow into the atria during ventricular contraction. Includes Tricuspid and Bicuspid/Mitral valves.

Heart Valves

Semilunar valves: Pulmonary and Aortic semilunar valves prevent backflow into ventricles during ventricular relaxation.
Atrioventricular (AV) valves: Prevent backflow into atria during ventricular contraction including bicuspid/mitral & tricuspid valves.

Heart Wall Components

Myocardium: Thickest layer, composed mainly of cardiac muscle.
Epicardium: Outermost layer composed of epithelial and connective tissue, often called serous pericardium.
Endocardium: Innermost layer lining the heart chambers and valves composed of endothelium and connective tissues.

Additional Heart Features

Interventricular septum: Wall separating the two ventricles.
Right atrium: Thin wall; fossa ovalis (medial wall depression) present in the fetal heart.
Foramen ovale: Thin oval depression in the atrial wall (fetal heart), allowing blood flow from the right to the left atrium.
Chordae tendinae: Thin, tough thread-like cords attaching to papillary muscles (extensions from the ventricle wall).
Trabeculae carneae: Small extensions of the right ventricle wall.
Right atrioventricular valve (tricuspid valve): Prevents backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium during ventricular contraction.

Description

Explore the anatomy and functions of the heart in this quiz. Test your knowledge on the different chambers, valves, and surrounding structures like the pericardium. Understand how blood flows through the heart and its essential components.