Heart Anatomy and Physiology Practice Flashcards

A set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomical structures, blood flow, and basic physiological features of the heart as described in the lecture transcript.

Mediastinum

The central compartment of the thoracic cavity where the heart is located.

Pericardial cavity

The specific space or cavity within the mediastinum that contains the heart.

Thoracic cavity

The chest area which houses the heart's location.

Heart location (Superior)

The heart extends superiorly to the $2nd$ intercostal space.

Heart location (Inferior)

The heart extends inferiorly to the $5th$ intercostal space.

Heart position

It is not in the midline; $\frac{2}{3}$ of the heart is towards the left of the midsagittal plane.

Heart rotation

The heart is rotated so the right side is more anterior and the left side is more posterior.

Heart size

Approximately the size of a clenched fist.

Heart shape

A cone shaped structure.

Base of the heart

The wider superior portion of the heart.

Apex of the heart

The pointy inferior portion that points inferiorly, to the left, and anteriorly.

Fifth intercostal space midclavicular line

The clinical landmark where the apex of the heart is located.

Apical beat

The sensation felt when the apex touches the anterior thoracic wall during heart contraction.

Point of Maximal Intensity (PMI)

Another name for the apical beat or the point where heart contraction is felt most strongly.

Pericardium

The covering of the heart consisting of a fibrous and a serous component.

Fibrous pericardium

The tough, outer layer of the pericardium.

Serous pericardium

The component of the pericardium including the visceral and parietal layers.

Visceral pericardium

The layer of the serous pericardium that lies directly on the heart; also known as the epicardium.

Parietal pericardium

The outer layer of the serous pericardium.

Coronary sulcus

A shallow groove that separates the superior chambers (atria) from the inferior chambers (ventricles).

Interventricular sulcus

A shallow groove located between the two inferior chambers (ventricles).

Sulcus

A term for a shallow groove, also used in the brain and spinal cord.

Atria

The two superior chambers of the heart; plural of atrium.

Ventricles

The two inferior chambers of the heart.

Interatrial septum

The partition or wall located between the two atria.

Interventricular septum

The partition or wall located between the two ventricles.

Tricuspid valve

The valve guarding the opening between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

Bicuspid valve

The valve guarding the opening between the left atrium and the left ventricle; also called the mitral valve.

Mitral valve

Alternative name for the bicuspid valve.

Pulmonary valve

The valve located at the beginning of the pulmonary trunk.

Aortic valve

The valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Atrioventricular valves

The category of valves including the tricuspid and bicuspid valves.

Valve purpose

To prevent backflow of blood or ensure blood flows in one direction only.

Epicardium

The outermost layer of the heart wall.

Myocardium

The middle, muscle layer of the heart wall.

Endocardium

The innermost layer of the heart wall.

Myo-

Prefix meaning muscle.

Receiving chambers

Functional term for the atria.

Pumping chambers

Functional term for the ventricles.

Right atrium blood source

Receives blood from the body.

Left atrium blood source

Receives blood from the lungs.

Right ventricle destination

Pumps blood to the lungs.

Left ventricle destination

Pumps blood to the body.

Foramen ovale

A hole in the interatrial septum during fetal development that allows blood to bypass the lungs.

Fossa ovalis

A shallow depression in the heart wall that is the remnant of the foramen ovale after it seals at birth.

Fossa

Term meaning a shallow depression.

Bypass the lungs

The reason fetuses use the foramen ovale, as lungs are not being used fully for oxygen.

Tombstone (Fossa ovalis)

A descriptor for the fossa ovalis as a scar area where the foramen used to be.

Chordae tendineae

Thread-like structures connected to valves, discussed in lab.

Papillary muscles

Muscles in the ventricles connected to chordae tendineae.

Trabeculae carneae

Internal muscular ridges of the ventricles.

Tricuspid flaps

Consists of $3$ flaps: anterior, posterior, and septal.

Bicuspid flaps

Consists of $2$ flaps: anterior and posterior.

Pulmonary valve flaps

Consists of $3$ flaps.

Aortic valve flaps

Consists of $3$ flaps.

Fossa lunata

The depression on the interatrial septum as seen from within the left atrium.

Semilunar valves

Valves named for their half moon shaped cusps, including the pulmonary and aortic valves.

Cardiac skeleton

A region of fibrous connective tissue located between the atria and the ventricles.

Cardiac skeleton composition

Mostly collagen fibers.

Cardiac skeleton (Origin/Insertion)

Provides the origin and insertion points for cardiac muscle.

Cardiac skeleton (Valve support)

Supports and reinforces the heart valves.

Electrical dead zone

A function of the cardiac skeleton that prevents the transmission of action potentials between atria and ventricles.

Insulation zone

Another description for the cardiac skeleton's role in electrical separation.

Coronary circulation

Blood vessels (arteries and veins) that supply blood specifically to the cardiac tissue.

Right coronary artery (RCA)

Artery coming off the aorta supplying the heart; branches into the marginal and posterior interventricular.

Marginal branch

A branch of the right coronary artery.

Posterior interventricular branch

A branch of the right coronary artery located on the backside of the heart.

Left coronary artery (LCA)

Artery coming off the aorta; branches into the anterior interventricular and the circumflex.

Anterior interventricular branch

A branch of the left coronary artery.

Circumflex branch

A branch of the left coronary artery that goes to the back of the heart.

Great cardiac vein

Vein located next to the anterior interventricular branch.

Small cardiac vein

Vein running along the right marginal branch.

Middle cardiac vein

Vein running along the posterior interventricular branch.

Coronary sinus

A large vein on the back of the heart where the great, small, and middle cardiac veins drain.

Coronary sinus opening

Located in the right atrium; where blood from the cardiac tissue returns.

Superior vena cava

Vessel carrying blood from the upper body to the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava

Vessel carrying blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Pulmonary trunk

Large vessel that receives blood from the right ventricle and divides into pulmonary arteries.

Pulmonary arteries

Vessels carrying blood away from the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Vessels carrying blood from the lungs towards the heart (left atrium).

Vein (General Definition)

Any blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart.

Artery (General Definition)

Any blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

Pulmonary artery color

Blue in diagrams because it is low in oxygen.

Pulmonary vein color

Red in diagrams because it contains oxygen.

Ductus arteriosus

A fetal bypass vessel between the pulmonary trunk and the aorta.

Ligamentum arteriosum

A remnant white band of the ductus arteriosus found in adults.

Intercalated discs

Specialized structures between cardiac muscle cells containing desmosomes and gap junctions.

Desmosomes

Connections in intercalated discs that hold cardiac muscle cells together very tightly.

Gap junctions

Electrical connections in intercalated discs that allow action potentials to transmit from cell to cell.

Neuromuscular junction (Cardiac)

Not needed for every cell because gap junctions transmit the stimulus.

Mitochondria in heart cells

Abundant organelles filling $25\,\%$ of the cell volume.

Aerobic respiration

The primary metabolic process on which cardiac muscle is dependent.

Oxygen demand

Cardiac muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen and cannot survive long without it.

Heart attack blockage

Stoppage of blood flow leading to muscle death within minutes.

Action potential transmission

The trigger for muscle contraction that travels through gap junctions and down T tubules.

T tubules

Structures down which action potentials travel to cause calcium release.

Fetal circulation modification 1

Foramen ovale.

Fetal circulation modification 2

Ductus arteriosus.

PMI location

$5th$ intercostal space, midclavicular line.

Heart Angle

The heart is at an angle where the apex points inferiorly to the left and anteriorly.