Heart Anatomy and Function Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to heart anatomy and function.

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart.

Capillaries

The site of exchange between arteries and veins, forming networks through tissues and organs.

Veins

Carry blood to the heart.

Right Atrium

Collects blood from the systemic circuit.

Right Ventricle

Pumps blood to the pulmonary circuit.

Left Atrium

Collects blood from the pulmonary circuit.

Left Ventricle

Pumps blood to the systemic circuit.

Pericardium

Double lining of pericardial cavity.

Visceral Pericardium

The inner layer of the pericardium, also known as the epicardium.

Parietal Pericardium

The outer layer of the pericardium.

Epicardium

Visceral pericardium

Myocardium

Thickest layer of the heart wall, composed of cardiac muscle.

Endocardium

The innermost layer of the heart wall; SSE.

Interatrial Septum

Separates the right and left atria.

Interventricular Septum

Separates the right and left ventricles.

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

Valves between the atria and ventricles; bicuspid and tricuspid.

Superior Vena Cava

Returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest to the right atrium.

Inferior Vena Cava

Returns blood from the trunk, viscera, and lower limbs to the right atrium.

Coronary Sinus

Returns blood from cardiac veins to the right atrium.

Tricuspid Valve

Right atrioventricular (AV) valve.

Bicuspid Valve

Also known as the mitral valve, it is the left atrioventricular (AV) valve.

Mitral Valve

Also known as bicuspid valve, it is the left atrioventricular (AV) valve.

Chordae Tendineae

Tendinous cords that attach to papillary muscles and control the closing of the AV valves.

Papillary Muscles

Muscles in the ventricles that attach to the chordae tendineae.

Trabeculae Carneae

Muscular ridges on the inner surface of the ventricles.

Pulmonary Semilunar Valve

Valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk.

Aortic Semilunar Valve

Valve between the left ventricle and the ascending aorta.

Coronary Arteries

Supply the heart wall with oxygen and nutrients, branching off the ascending aorta.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Area of partial or complete blockage of coronary circulation, leading to coronary ischemia.

Atherosclerosis

Plaque on the wall of a coronary vessel.

Thrombus

Clot in coronary vessel.

Angina Pectoris

One of the first symptoms = chest pain

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Heart attack; cardiac muscle cells die from lack of oxygen.

Infarct

Nonfunctional area of necrotic tissue due to myocardial infarction.

Balloon Angioplasty

A procedure where a catheter tip containing a balloon is inflated to press plaque against vessel walls.

Stent

Tubular wire mesh used to hold a vessel open after angioplasty.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

A surgical procedure where a vessel is used to create a detour around an obstruction in a coronary artery.

Autorhythmicity

The heart's ability to initiate its own heartbeats.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

Pacemaker of the heart, initiates muscle impulse

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Delays the muscle impulse as it passes to the atrioventricular bundle.

Purkinje Fibers

Distribute muscle impulse throughout the ventricular myocardium

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

A recording of the electrical activity of the heart.

P Wave

Atrial depolarization on an ECG.

QRS Complex

Ventricular depolarization (and atrial repolarization) on an ECG.

T Wave

Ventricular repolarization on an ECG.

Bradycardia

Abnormally slow heart rate.

Tachycardia

Abnormally fast heart rate.

Systole

Contraction of heart chamber.

Diastole

Relaxation of heart chamber.