3ARP: Cardiovascular Anatomy & Circuits

Vocabulary practice cards focusing on the anatomical structures, coverings, wall layers, chambers, valves, circuits, and major vessels of the human heart based on lecture notes.

Mediastinum

The space located between the lungs in the chest cavity where the heart sits.

Base (of the heart)

The broader, more rounded superior portion located at the top of the heart.

Apex (of the heart)

The pointy, inferior portion of the heart directed toward the left side of the chest cavity.

Pulmonary circuit

The pathway where deoxygenated blood leaves the right side of the heart, travels to the lungs to exchange gases, and returns as oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart.

Systemic circuit

The pathway where oxygenated blood leaves the left side of the heart to deliver oxygen and nutrients to body tissues, returning as deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart.

Oxygenated blood

Blood characterized by high oxygen levels and low carbon dioxide levels, represented by the color red.

Deoxygenated blood

Blood characterized by lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels, represented by the color blue.

Fibrous pericardium

The outermost, sturdy, and strong superficial covering layer of the heart.

Parietal pericardium

The outer layer of the serous pericardium double-walled sac located just beneath the fibrous pericardium and closer to the thorax/ribs.

Visceral pericardium

The deep layer of the serous pericardium that directly contacts and attaches to the heart tissue itself; also designated as the epicardium when classified as a heart wall layer.

Pericardial cavity

The fluid-filled space between the parietal pericardium and visceral pericardium that functions to reduce friction while the heart beats.

Epicardium

The outermost wall layer of the heart, which occupies the exact same anatomical position as the visceral pericardium.

Myocardium

The thickest middle muscle wall layer of the heart responsible for contracting to eject blood during a heartbeat.

Endocardium

The innermost, smooth wall layer of the heart that forms the inner lining in direct contact with circulating blood.

Septum

The internal dividing wall separating the right and left chambers of the heart to prevent the mixing of deoxygenated and oxygenated blood.

Atria

The two superior chambers of the heart (right and left) that initially receive blood before it drains into the lower chambers.

Ventricles

The two inferior muscular pumping chambers of the heart (right and left) that contract to push blood out to the lungs or throughout the body.

Atrioventricular (AV) valves

The valves positioned between the atria and the ventricles that regulate one-way blood flow, consisting of the tricuspid valve and the bicuspid valve.

Tricuspid valve

An atrioventricular valve featuring three cusps situated on the right side of the heart between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Bicuspid valve

An atrioventricular valve featuring two cusps situated on the left side of the heart between the left atrium and left ventricle; also known as the mitral valve.

Semilunar valves

Pocket-shaped valves that work together to prevent backflow into the ventricles, consisting of the pulmonary and aortic valves.

Pulmonary semilunar valve

The semilunar valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk.

Aortic semilunar valve

The semilunar valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Chordae tendineae

String-like structures anchored to papillary muscles that hold down the AV valve cusps to prevent them from blowing open into the atria during ventricular contraction.

Papillary muscles

Muscular projections within the ventricles that contract and pull on chordae tendineae to keep AV valves anchored shut against backflow.

Superior vena cava

The large vein that transports deoxygenated blood returning from the head, upper limbs, and upper body into the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava

The large vein that transports deoxygenated blood returning from the lower body up into the right atrium.

Coronary sinus

An opening in the right atrium that receives returning deoxygenated blood collected from the heart's own blood vessel network.

Pulmonary trunk

The central blood vessel emerging from the right ventricle through the pulmonary valve that branches into the right and left pulmonary arteries.

Pulmonary arteries

Vessels branching from the pulmonary trunk that carry deoxygenated blood away from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Vessels that bring newly oxygenated blood from the lungs and dump it into the left atrium.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body, which carries oxygenated blood ejected from the left ventricle out to systemic tissues.