Animal Anatomy: Circulatory System

Circulatory System

What is the membrane that covers the heart called?

Pericardium

Name the three layers of the heart.

The epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium

Is the Epicardium layer of the heart part of the Pericardium (visceral pericardium)?

Yes, it is the visceral layer of the pericardium

Name the type of muscle cells found in the Myocardium layer.

Cardiac muscles

The Right Atrio-Ventricular opening (AV opening) is guarded by what type of valve?

Tricuspid valve

What is the other name for the Bicuspid Valve that guards the Left Atrio-Ventricular opening?

Mitral valve

What are Chordae Tendineae (heart strings) and what is their main function?

Thin fibrous cord-like structures which connect the free edges of the tricuspid and bicuspid valves to the papillary muscles

What is the main function of Papillary Muscles?

Double check system; in case one fails to work then the other can keep the valves working

What is the basic difference between AV Valves and Semilunar Valves (in their location)?

AV Valves: between atria and ventricles

Semilunar Valves: between the ventricles and their corresponding arteries

What is the main function of the Semilunar Valves?

Guards the opening of the aorta into the left ventricle and the opening of the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle

Name the major veins that bring deoxygenated blood to the Right Atrium.

The cranial and caudal vena cava

Name the veins that bring the oxygenated blood to the Left Atrium.

The pulmonary veins

The Aorta originates from which ventricle?

Left ventricle

The Pulmonary Artery originates from which ventricle?

Right ventricle

Which side of the heart contains pure (oxygenated) blood?

Left side of the heart

Which side of the heart contains deoxygenated blood?

Right side of the heart

Which ventricle of heart has thicker walls (left or right) and why?

The left ventricle because it has to pump blood to the whole body

List the main differentiating points between a Vein and an Artery.

Artery: thick walled vessels that carry blood away from the heart; always carry oxygenated blood (except the pulmonary artery); do not have valves within the lumen; do not collapse when empty

Vein: thin walled vessels which carry blood toward the heart; always carry deoxygenated blood (except the pulmonary veins); have valves within the lumen; collapse when empty

Name an artery that carries deoxygenated blood.

Pulmonary artery

Name the veins that carry oxygenated blood.

Pulmonary veins

Name the tiny vessels that allow the exchange of gases and waste products at the tissue level.

Capillaries

What is Pulmonary Circulation?

The movement of the blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart again

What is Systemic Circulation?

The movement of blood from the left ventricle to the body tissues

Name the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscles.

Coronary arteries

Which major branch of the Abdominal Aorta supplies blood to the stomach, liver and spleen?

Celiac artery

Name the vein in the neck of dogs and cats that we collect blood samples from.

external jugular vein

Name the vein in the front leg of dogs and cats that we collect blood sample from.

Name the arteries that supply blood to the small and large intestine.

Anterior and posterior mesenteric arteries

Name the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.

Name the arteries that supply blood to the ovaries.

Ovarian arteries

Name the veins in the hindlimbs of dogs and cats that we collect blood samples from (give specific names for dogs and cats separately).

What is Portal Circulation?

What is the main function of Hepatic Portal Circulation?

Blood carries most of the nutrients from the intestine to the liver, the liver cells detoxify, modify, or store these nutrients

Name the blood vessels that the liver receives blood from.

Hepatic artery: brings oxygenated blood to the liver

Portal vein: bring deoxygenated blood from the intestine for detoxification, modification, and storage of nutrients in the liver

What is the function of the Foramen Ovale and where is it located?

Allows blood flow from the right atrium to the left atrium to bypass the lungs in fetal life located between the left and right atrium

What is the function of the Ductus Arteriosus and where is it located?

Allows oxygenated blood to bypass the liver and connects the umbilical vein directly to the caudal vena cava and

What is the function of the Ductus Venosus and where is it located?

What is Lymph?

What blood vessels carry Lymph?

Name the important lymph nodes that we palpate during physical exam in dogs and cats.

Lymph is drained into which major blood vessel to enter circulation?