Cardiovascular Anatomy

what is the cardiovascular system composed of

heart, great vessels and peripheral vasculature

which system is the cardiovascular system closely associated functionally with

lymphatic system

what essentially is the cardiovascular system

transport system hardware to pump blood around the body

what does blood consist of

55% plasma and 45% cells suspended in it

how many litres of blood does an average adult have

5

what are the 3 different types of cells in the blood called

red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets

what does the haemoglobin in RBCs allow

large oxygen cells to transfer

why would the colour of the blood vary

dependent upon the oxygen content

how would arterial blood appear and why

bright red as it is full of oxygen

how would venous blood appear and why

dark red as its not as full of oxygen

where is blood made

red bone marrow

what is meant by haematopoiesis

blood cell formation

what is erthropoietin

stimulant for red bone marrow to increase RBCs

where is erthropoietin produced

kidneys

name 3 types of blood vessels

arteries, veins, capillaries

what is the main difference between arteries and veins

arteries have a thicker smooth muscle and veins have valves

what are the 3 layers of arteries and veins

outer tunica adventitia, middle tunica media and inner tunica intima

what is the outer tunica adventitia made of

fibrous tissue

what is the middle tunica media made of

smooth muscle and elastic fibres

what is the inner tunica intima made of

single layer endothelial cells and elastic tissue

what are the 2 types of arteries

conducting and distributing

what are conducting arteries rich of

elastin

what do conducting arteries allow

storage of kinetic energy

why is the storage of kinetic energy useful

in order to recoil under high pressure

where are conducting arteries

close to the heart

why are conducting arteries big

to supply regions of the body

what are distributing arteries rich of

muscle

give an example of where are distributing arteries

renal to liver

why do capillaries have single cell walls

to allow easy diffusion across the tissue

describe the size of the lumen fro arteries and veins

smaller in artery and bigger in veins

describe veins in comparison to arteries (structure)

thinner walls, larger lumen and has valves

in simple terms what is the heart

a pump

what are the 4 chambers of the heart

2 atria and 2 ventricles

what type of tissue is the pericardial sac surrounding the heart made up of

pleura

what is the estimated size of an individuals heart

size of the owners clenched fist

approx how much does a heart weigh

250 to 350 grams

describe the shape and position of the heart

flattened cone with a base directed posteriorly to right shoulder and apex pointing antero inferiorly to left hip

what is base of the heart mainly formed of

left atrium

what is the anterior surface of the heart mainly formed of

right ventricle

what is the inferior surface of the heart mainly formed of

left and right ventricles

which vessel enters the heart on the postero inferior surface

inferior vena cava

where does the inferior vena cava carry blood from

legs, feet, and organs in the abdomen and pelvis

what is the fossa ovalis

remnant of foramen ovale of fetal heart

What is the pericardium?

the membrane enclosing the heart

what does the pericardium consist of

an outer fibrous layer and an inner double layer of serous membrane.

who is more prone to pericarditis

drug users or people with advanced HIV

what can pericarditis lead to

endocarditis

what is meant by pneumopericardium

pericardium filled with air

why may an infant have pneumopericardium

could be due to misplaced tubes

what does the fibrous layer prevent

overfilling of the heart

what are the layers surrounding the skin separated with

serous fluid

why is serous fluid important

reduce friction and allow smooth beating of the heart

what are the 3 layers of the heart wall

outer epicardium, middle myocardium, inner endocardium

what is the middle myocardium composed of

specialist interlacing bundles of cardiac muscle

what is the middle myocardium interspersed with

fibrous tissue which is thicker around valves and great vessels

what is the lining of the inner endocardium

specialised squamous lining

what are the internal partitions dividing the heard into 2 functional units called

interatrial and interventricular septa

what are the interatrial and interventricular septa

tough strong connective tissue

where do the atria lie positionally

posterior and superior to the ventricles

what are the appendages in the atria called

auricles

what do auricles in the atria do

increase atrial volume

Where do the atria receive blood from?

veins

how would you describe the walls of the atria

thin with little work to do

what is the role of the atria

receive blood and move into the respective ventricle

which vessels do the right atria collect blood from

superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and coronary sinus

Where does the left atrium receive blood from?

4 pulmonary veins

what is the role of ventricles

discharging chambers

describe the walls within the ventricles

extremely muscular and contain papillary muscles

what is the function of the muscles within the ventricular walls

allow attachment to valves

which ventricle has thicker walls

left

which side of the heart is most common regarding heart failure and what is the result

left, blood goes back to the lungs

which side of the heart is the least common regarding heart failure and what is the result

right, blood returns back into system

what are the four valves of the heart

tricuspid, bicuspid, pulmonary, aortic

Where is the triscupid valve

between the right atrium and right ventricle

Where is the biscuspid valve

between the left atrium and left ventricle

Where is the aortic valve

between the left ventricle and the aorta

where is the pulmonary valve

between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk

what are the valves within the hearts collective function

ensure blood only flows one way around the heart

where are the atrioventricular valves

between atrium and ventricle

when do the atrioventricular valves close

when blood is in the ventricles

What is the chordae tendineae

tendons which attach the cusps of the tricuspid and mitral valves to the papillary muscles of the wall

What do the chordae tendineae do

stop valves from being folded backwards

when do the aortic and pulmonary valves close

once blood is ejected into blood vessels

what is meant by heart auscultation

listening to heart sounds

which imaging modality may be undertaken in support of auscultation

echocardiology

where is the arterial supply to the coronary arteries from

ascending aorta

what is the function of the coronary veins

drain the heart and empty into the coronary sinus - which empties directly into the right atrium

which cranial nerve is the heart supplied via

cranial nerve number 10 = vagus nerve

which nervous system supplies the heart

sympathetic nervous system

where does the left coronary artery go

towards the left side of the heart and divides into 2 arteries

which arteries does the left coronary artery divide into

anterior interventricular artery and circumflex artery

what is the anterior interventricular artery commonly referred as

anterior descending

where does the anterior descending artery supply

anterior ventricular walls, anterior septum and bundle branches

where does the circumflex artery supply

left atrium and top part of the left ventricle

where does the right coronary artery supply

right ventricle and part of the left ventricle

what does the right coronary artery divide into

marginal artery and posterior interventricular artery

what is the posterior interventricular artery commonly referred as

right posterior descending

where does the marginal artery supply

lateral right side

where does the right posterior descending artery supply

posterior of ventricles

what is meant by arteries anastomose

joining of blood vessels