Heart: Terms to know

Aorta

The main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.

Ascending aorta

The part of the aorta that rises vertically from the heart.

Aortic arch

The curved portion of the aorta that connects the ascending and descending aorta.

Brachiocephalic artery/trunk

An artery that branches off the aortic arch to supply blood to the right arm and the head.

Left common carotid artery

An artery that branches from the aortic arch and supplies blood to the left side of the head and neck.

Left subclavian artery

An artery that branches from the aortic arch and supplies blood to the left arm.

Descending aorta

The part of the aorta that travels down through the thorax and abdomen.

Apex

The tip of the heart, where the left ventricle is located.

Atrioventricular (AV) valves

Valves located between the atria and the ventricles of the heart.

Chordae tendineae

Fibrous cords that connect the papillary muscles to the atrioventricular valves.

Left AV (bicuspid) valve

The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle, also known as the mitral valve.

Right AV (tricuspid) valve

The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Atrium, right and left

The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

Auricle, right and left

The ear-like projections of the atria that increase their volume.

Base

The top part of the heart where the major blood vessels are connected.

Conducting system

The network of specialized cardiac muscle fibers that initiate and conduct impulses through the heart.

Sinoatrial node

The natural pacemaker of the heart, located in the right atrium.

Atrioventricular node

A node that conducts impulses from the atria to the ventricles.

Bundle of His

A collection of heart muscle cells specialized for electrical conduction.

Right and left bundle branches

Branches of the Bundle of His that conduct impulses to the right and left ventricles.

Purkinje fibers

Fibers that carry the electrical impulse to the muscle of the ventricles.

Coronary sinus

A large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle.

Fossa ovalis

A depression in the interatrial septum that is a remnant of a fetal structure.

Right coronary artery

An artery that supplies blood to the right side of the heart.

Marginal artery

An artery that runs along the border of the heart, supplying blood to the colon.

Posterior interventricular artery (posterior descending artery)

An artery that supplies blood to the posterior portion of the interventricular septum.

Left coronary artery

An artery that supplies blood to the left side of the heart.

Anterior interventricular artery (anterior descending artery)

An artery that supplies blood to the front portion of the interventricular septum.

Circumflex artery

An artery that supplies blood to the lateral part of the left atrium and ventricle.

Cardiac veins

Veins that drain deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle.

Great cardiac vein

Vein that drains blood from the anterior portion of the heart.

Middle cardiac vein

Vein that drains blood from the posterior part of the heart.

Small cardiac vein

Vein that drains blood from the right side of the heart.

Coronary sulcus (atrioventricular sulcus)

The groove that encircles the heart between the atria and ventricles.

Heart wall

The three layers that make up the heart: epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium.

Epicardium (visceral pericardium)

The outer layer of the heart wall.

Myocardium

The muscular middle layer of the heart wall responsible for contraction.

Endocardium

The inner layer of the heart, lining the heart chambers.

Interatrial septum

The wall of tissue that separates the right and left atria.

Interventricular septum

The wall of tissue that separates the right and left ventricles.

Interventricular sulcus

The groove on the surface of the heart that runs between the ventricles.

Ligamentum arteriosum

A fibrous remnant of the ductus arteriosus in the adult heart.

Papillary muscles

Muscles that anchor the chordae tendineae and help open and close the AV valves.

Pectinate muscles

Muscle fibers that form ridges in the atrial walls.

Pulmonary trunk

The vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Right and left pulmonary arteries

Arteries that carry deoxygenated blood to the right and left lungs.

Right and left pulmonary veins

Veins that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart.

Semilunar valves

Valves located between the ventricles and the major arteries.

Aortic semilunar valve

The valve that regulates blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Pulmonary semilunar valve

The valve that regulates blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary trunk.

Trabeculae carneae

Muscular ridges in the ventricular walls.

Vena cava

The large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

Superior vena cava

The vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart.

Inferior vena cava

The vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

Ventricle, right and left

The two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart.