Heart Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards about the heart's anatomy and blood flow.

Atria

These are the receiving chambers of the heart, where blood flows in before being pumped to the ventricles.

Ventricles

These are the discharging chambers of the heart, responsible for pumping blood to the lungs or the rest of the body.

Superior and Inferior Vena Cava

These are two large veins that return blood to the right atrium from the upper and lower parts of the body.

Pulmonary Veins

These are the veins that return oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Valves

This structure allows for one-way flow of blood between the atria and the ventricles.

Tricuspid Valve

This is the valve located between the right atrium and the right ventricle, also known as the right atrioventricular valve.

Mitral Valve

It is also known as the Bicuspid Valve; it is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.

Pulmonary Trunk

A vessel that takes blood away from the right ventricle.

Aorta

A vessel that carries blood away from the left ventricle.

Semilunar Valves

These valves lie between the ventricles and the major arteries leaving the heart (pulmonary artery and aorta).

Pulmonary Semilunar Valve

This valve lies between the right ventricle and the main pulmonary artery.

Aortic Semilunar Valve

This valve lies between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Pulmonary Circuit

This circuit involves blood flow between the heart and the lungs for gas exchange.

Systemic Circuit

This circuit involves blood flow between the heart and the rest of the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues.

Fibrous Pericardium

The outermost portion of the pericardial sac, protecting the heart and keeping it in place.

Serous Pericardium

Its parietal portion lines the pericardial cavity, while its visceral portion (epicardium) covers the heart surface.

Pericardial Fluid

Fluid that fills the space between the parietal and visceral layers of the pericardium, reducing friction as the heart beats.

Epicardium

The visceral portion of the serous pericardium, which is right on top of the heart.

Coronary Arteries

Vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the cardiac muscle tissue.

Cardiac Veins

Veins that return blood from the cardiac tissue back to the right atrium via the coronary sinus.

Left Coronary Artery

The main artery that branches into the circumflex artery and the anterior interventricular artery (LAD).

Marginal Artery

An artery that branches off the right coronary artery.

Right Coronary Artery

The main artery that branches off the aorta and supplies blood to the right side and posterior surface of the heart.

Cardiac Vein

The great cardiac vein runs alongside the anterior interventricular artery.

Infarct

The death of tissue due to a lack of oxygen.

Papillary Muscles

These muscles are like the braces on an umbrella to pull those cords tight when ventricles contract so that the AV valves stay closed and you don't end up with backflow of blood.

Arrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm.

Cardiac output

Amount of blood is being move out of one ventricle per minute.

Stroke Volume

The volume of blood pumped out by the ventricle with each heartbeat.

Parasympathetic Division

It sends information from the cardioinhibitory center to slow the heart rate down.