Cardiac Anatomy - Required Anatomical Structures ( flashcards )

Vocabulary flashcards covering key cardiac anatomical structures and their functions or relationships.

Right atrium

Upper chamber of the heart; receives blood returning to the heart from the systemic circulation through the inferior and superior vena cavae.

Left atrium

Upper chamber of the heart; receives blood returning to the heart from the pulmonary circulation through the pulmonary veins.

Right ventricle

Lower chamber of the heart; discharges blood toward the lungs through the pulmonary trunk.

Left ventricle

Lower chamber of the heart; discharges blood toward the entire body through the aorta.

Interventricular septum

Wall separating the ventricles internally; prevents mixing of blood between the right and left sides.

Interatrial septum

Wall separating the atria internally; bears the fossa ovalis; prevents mixing of blood between the right and left sides.

Fossa ovalis

Oval-shaped depression on the interatrial septum; remnant of the foramen ovale.

Anterior interventricular sulcus

Longitudinal groove on the anterior surface of the heart that separates the ventricles.

Posterior interventricular sulcus

Longitudinal groove on the posterior surface of the heart that separates the ventricles.

Coronary (atrio-ventricular) sulcus

Horizontal groove on the surface of the heart separating the atria from the ventricles; houses coronary vessels.

Tricuspid (right atrioventricular) valve

Flap of endocardium covering the opening between the right atrium and right ventricle; consists of three cusps; each cusp connected to the chordae tendineae; opens and closes based on pressure differences.

Bicuspid (left atrioventricular, mitral) valve

Flap of endocardium covering the opening between the left atrium and left ventricle; consists of two cusps; each cusp connected to the chordae tendineae; opens and closes based on pressure differences.

Chordae tendinae

Strands of connective tissue attached to the bicuspid and tricuspid valves; “heart strings” that help prevent inversion/prolapse during ventricular contraction.

Pulmonary semilunar valve

Flap of endocardium located at the base of the pulmonary trunk on the right ventricle; opens and closes based on pressure differences.

Aortic semilunar valve

Flap of endocardium covering the base of the aorta at the left ventricle; opens and closes based on pressure differences.

Pectinate muscles

Prominent ridges of muscle mainly in the right atrium.

Trabeculae carneae

Ridges of cardiac muscle covered by endocardium that line the walls of the ventricles.

Papillary muscles

Muscles in the ventricles that extend from the inferior ventricular surface; attach to the cusps of the atrioventricular valves via the chordae tendineae; contract to prevent inversion/prolapse during ventricular contraction.

Ligamentum arteriosum

Remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosus that connects the aorta and the pulmonary trunk.