Antomy quiz 10 &11

Apex of the heart

The pointed inferior tip of the heart, oriented toward the left hip.

Parietal pericardium

The outer sac-like membrane that anchors and protects the heart within the mediastinum.

Visceral pericardium (Epicardium)

The innermost layer of the pericardium that sits directly on the outer surface of the heart muscle.

Myocardium

The thick middle layer of the heart composed entirely of cardiac muscle tissue responsible for pumping.

Endocardium

The smooth, thin inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.

Atria (Right and Left)

The two superior receiving chambers of the heart.

Auricles

Ear-like flap extensions on the exterior of the atria that increase total atrial volume.

Ventricles (Right and Left)

The two inferior pumping chambers of the heart.

Interventricular septum

The thick muscular wall that separates the right and left ventricles.

Fossa ovalis

A depression in the right atrium that represents the remnant of the fetal foramen ovale.

Foramen ovale

The fetal shunt between the right and left atria that closes at birth to become the fossa ovalis.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The natural pacemaker of the heart, located in the superior wall of the right atrium.

Tricuspid valve

The right AV valve, consisting of three cusps.

Bicuspid (Mitral) valve

The left AV valve, consisting of two cusps.

Chordae tendineae

Tendon-like strings ("heart strings") that connect AV valve cusps to papillary muscles.

Papillary muscles

Structural muscles located in the ventricles attached to chordae tendineae to anchor AV valves during systole.

Semilunar valves

Valves located at the exits of the ventricles that prevent backflow from the great arteries.

Pulmonary semilunar valve

Valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk.

Aortic semilunar valve

Valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Superior vena cava

Great vein bringing deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the right atrium.

Inferior vena cava

Great vein bringing deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Pulmonary trunk

The major vessel carrying deoxygenated blood out of the right ventricle toward the lungs.

Pulmonary arteries

Left and right branches of the pulmonary trunk carrying low-oxygen blood to the lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Four vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood back from the lungs into the left atrium.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body, carrying oxygen-rich blood out of the left ventricle to systemic circulation.

Right and left coronary arteries

Vessels originating at the proximal end of the aorta that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium.

Cardiac (coronary) veins

Vessels that drain deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle tissue.

Coronary sinus

A large collecting vein on the posterior heart surface that receives blood from cardiac veins and empties into the right atrium.

Pulmonary circuit

The path of blood flow from the right side of the heart to the lungs for gas exchange, and back to the left side.

Systemic circuit

The path of blood flow from the left side of the heart to all body tissues for oxygen delivery, and back to the right side.

Deoxygenated blood pathway

Superior/Inferior Vena Cava & Coronary Sinus -> Right Atrium -> Tricuspid Valve -> Right Ventricle -> Pulmonary Valve -> Pulmonary Trunk & Arteries.

Oxygenated blood pathway

Pulmonary Veins -> Left Atrium -> Bicuspid/Mitral Valve -> Left Ventricle -> Aortic Valve -> Aorta & Systemic Arteries.

Systole

The phase of contraction of the heart muscle that produces a pulse of blood.

Diastole

The phase of relaxation of the heart muscle that allows for the filling of the ventricles.

Blood Pressure (BP)

The physical force that blood exerts against a vessel wall, typically measured at the brachial artery.

Systolic blood pressure

The peak arterial blood pressure attained during ventricular contraction (systole).

Diastolic blood pressure

The minimum arterial blood pressure occurring during ventricular relaxation (diastole).

Normal young adult BP

$$120/75\,\text{mm Hg}$$

Pulse pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure; an important measure of stress exerted on small arteries.

Hypertension

A chronic state of elevated resting blood pressure above 130 systolic or 80 diastolic.

Complications of hypertension

Destroys arterioles, damages kidneys and heart, causes blindness, and leads to heart attacks or aneurysms.

Systolic reading technique

The pressure value noted on the gauge when you first hear the rhythmic pulse sound through the stethoscope.

Diastolic reading technique

The pressure value noted on the gauge when the pulse sounds completely disappear.