Cardiac Anatomy Lecture Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomical structures, vessels, wall layers, and conduction system of the human heart based on lecture notes.

Cardiology

The study of the heart and associated diseases.

Arteries

Effector vessels that carry blood away from the heart; they carry blood high in oxygen and low in carbon dioxide except for the pulmonary arteries.

Veins

Afferent vessels that carry blood toward the heart; they carry blood low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide except for the pulmonary veins.

Mediastinum

The location where the heart is situated, with a slight prevalence to the left.

Heart Mass

The average mass of the heart in an adult is about $300\,g$.

Epicardium

The visceral pericardium and serous membrane forming the outermost layer of the heart wall.

Myocardium

The cardiac muscle tissue that forms the atria and ventricles.

Endocardium

The inner lining of the heart.

Fibrous pericardium

The outermost covering of the heart, also known as the pericardial sac.

Parietal pericardium

The inner lining of the fibrous pericardium.

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from veins and are covered by auricles.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart that pump blood to arteries.

Pectinate muscles

Muscles that assist in atrial dilation during loading.

Chordae tendineae

Structures that connect papillary muscles to the atrioventricular (AV) valves.

Superior vena cava

Carries blood from the head and upper limbs to the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava

Carries blood from the trunk and lower limbs to the right atrium.

Coronary sinus

Carries blood from the myocardium to the right atrium.

Pulmonary Trunk

Carries blood away from the right ventricle toward the lungs by way of the pulmonary semilunar valve.

Fossa ovalis

A post-birth depression in the interatrial septum; previously the foramen ovale embryonic shunt.

Aorta

Carries blood from the left ventricle by way of the aortic semilunar valve toward the body.

Tricuspid valve

The right atrioventricular valve located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Bicuspid valve

Also known as the mitral valve; the left atrioventricular valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Right coronary artery

Originates at the base of the ascending aorta and gives rise to the marginal and posterior interventricular arteries.

Left coronary artery

Originates at the base of the ascending aorta and gives rise to the circumflex and anterior interventricular arteries.

Great cardiac vein

Drains blood from the area of the anterior interventricular artery.

Intercalated discs

Found at the junction of cardiac muscle fibers; they transfer force of contraction and propagate action potentials.

Sinoatrial (SA) node

Located in the right uppermost atrial wall, it is the pacemaker of the heart and initiates impulses at a rate of $60$ to $100$ beats per minute.

Atrioventricular (AV) node

Located in the floor of the right atrium, it serves as a delay signal to allow atria to finish contracting and ventricles to fill.

Atrioventricular bundle

Also known as the bundle of His; the only electrical connection between the atria and ventricles.

Purkinje fibers

Large diameter conduction myofibers in the papillary muscles that conduct impulses into the ventricular muscle mass to cause contraction.