Advanced Anatomy: Thorax - Heart Anatomy

apex of heart

• the most inferior portion of the left ventricle

• lies in the left 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line

roots of great vessels

superior border of heart

right atrium

right border of heart

• left atrium

• left ventricle

left border of heart 

• right ventricle

• small portion of left ventricle

inferior border of heart 

anterior surface of heart

• deep to the sternum and ribs

• formed mainly by the right atrium and right ventricle

sternocostal surface of heart

What is another name for the anterior surface of the heart?

diaphragmatic surface of heart

• superior to the diaphragm

• formed by the right and left ventricle and the opening for the inferior vena cava in right atrium

base of heart

• the posterior surface

• mainly formed by the left atrium, some by the right atrium

• all great veins enter here and anchor it to the posterior aspect of the middle mediastinum

coronary sulcus/groove

atrioventricular sulcus

What is another name for the coronary sulcus/groove?

anterior interventricular sulcus

posterior interventricular sulcus

interventricular groove

What is another name for the interventricular sulci?

• right coronary artery

• left coronary artery

Name the first 2 branches off the ascending aorta

right coronary artery

• courses inferior to the right auricle in the coronary sulcus and divides small branches

• marginal artery

• posterior descending artery

Name the 2 branches off the right coronary artery

marginal artery

• follows the inferior border to the apex

posterior descending artery

• lies within the posterior interventricular groove and also heads to the apex

posterior interventricular artery

What is another name for the posterior descending artery?

left coronary artery

• is fairly short

• gives off two main branches

• left anterior descending artery

• circumflex artery

Name the 2 branches off left coronary artery

left anterior descending artery

• runs in the anterior interventricular groove to the apex

anterior interventricular artery

What is another name for left anterior descending artery?

circumflex artery

• runs in the left coronary sulcus curving around toward the posterior interventricular groove

coronary sinus

• a sac-like structure located in the posterior coronary sulcus which empties directly into the right atrium

orifice of coronary sinus

great cardiac vein

• prominent in the anterior interventricular sulcus with the left anterior descending artery (LAD)

• also follows the circumflex artery around to the posterior surface of the heart

small cardiac vein

• runs along the inferior border of the heart, with the marginal artery

middle cardiac vein

• found in the posterior interventricular sulcus, with the posterior descending artery (PDA)

epicardium

• visceral serous pericardium

myocardium

• muscular (cardiac muscle itself)

endocardium

right atrium

• receives blood from the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and the coronary sinus

• posterior wall is smooth

crista terminalis

• vertical ridge that divides right atrium into anterior and posterior halves

pectinate muscles

• bundles of muscles on the anterior wall of the right atrium

fossa ovalis

• shallow depression on the interatrial septum, which is the remnant of the foramen ovale in the fetus

right auricle

• the muscular cul-de-sac of the right atrium

right atrioventricular valve

• has 3 cusps; each is attached to chordae tendineae

tricuspid valve

What is another name for the right atrioventricular valve?

chordae tendineae of right atrioventricular valve

right ventricle

trabeculae carnae of right ventricle

• muscular ridges that make up the surface of most of the ventricular wall

papillary muscles

• attached to cusps by chordae tendineae

moderator band

• a muscular band in the right ventricle of the heart that connects the interventricular septum to the anterior papillary muscle

pulmonary valve

• has 3 adjacent cusps (semilunar valve)

left atrium

• receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through 4 pulmonary veins and propels it to the left ventricle past the left atrioventricular valve

left atrioventricular valve

• has only 2 cusps, each is controlled by chordae tendineae from both papillary muscles

bicuspid valve

What is another name for the left atrioventricular valve?

left ventricle

• walls are thicker than the right

• has trabeculae carne and large papillary muscles

trabeculae carnae of left ventricle

• muscular ridges that make up the surface of most of the ventricular wall

aortic valve

• blood from the left ventricle passes through to the ascending aorta

• has 3 cusps (semilunar valve)

conducting system of the heart

• initiates and maintains heart contractions

• system of modified myocardial cells that consists of several distinct components

sinoatrial node

• the “pacemaker”

atrioventricular node

the “gatekeeper”

atrioventricular bundle

bundle of His

What is another name for the atrioventricular bundle?

right crus

right bundle branch

What is another name for the right crus?

left crus

left bundle branch

What is another name for the left crus?

Purkinje fibers

cardiac plexus

• innervation of the heart

• modify the rate and strength of

• contraction of the heart muscle

• composed of parasympathetic fibers from the vagus nerve and fibers from the cervical and thoracic sympathetic ganglia