Heart

Arteries

Transport blood away from the heart.

Veins

Transport blood back to the heart.

Great vessels

Arteries and veins entering and leaving the heart.

Heart valves

Ensure unidirectional blood flow.

Blood pressure

The force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls.

Pulmonary circulation

Right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

Systemic circulation

Left side of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to body tissues.

Mediastinum

Space where the heart is located, slightly left of midline.

Pericardium

Tough sac enclosing the heart, restricting its movement.

Epicardium

Visceral layer of serous pericardium and areolar connective tissue.

Myocardium

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

Endocardium

Internal surface of heart chambers, made of simple squamous epithelium.

Atria

Two superior, smaller chambers of the heart.

Ventricles

Two inferior, larger chambers of the heart.

Auricle

Anterior part of each atrium.

Coronary sulcus

Groove separating atria and ventricles.

Atrioventricular (AV) valves

Two valves ensuring one-way blood flow between atria and ventricles.

Semilunar valves

Two valves at the base of great arteries.

Fibrous skeleton

Dense connective tissue providing structural support and electrical insulation.

Right atrium

Receives venous blood from systemic circulation.

Interatrial septum

Divides the right atrium from the left.

Right atrioventricular valve

Ensures one-way blood flow from right atrium to right ventricle.

Right ventricle

Receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium.

Interventricular septum

Thick wall between right and left ventricles.

Papillary muscles

Anchor chordae tendineae in the right ventricle.

Left atrium

Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via pulmonary veins.

Left atrioventricular valve

Controls flow between left atrium and ventricle (bicuspid/mitral valve).

Left ventricle

Pumps blood through systemic circulation, generating high pressure.

Aortic semilunar valve

Controls flow from left ventricle to aorta.

Coronary circulation

Supplies heart wall with oxygen and nutrients via coronary arteries.

Cardiac plexus

Network of sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers innervating the heart.

Sympathetic innervation

Increases heart rate and force of contractions.

Parasympathetic innervation

Decreases heart rate without affecting contraction force.

Aging of the heart

Decreased elasticity and efficiency affecting heart function.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Congenital heart defect with four specific problems.