Heart Development

What is the primary heart field?

A horseshoe-shaped area of mesoderm that gives rise to the heart.

What is the role of VEGF in heart development?

Stimulates the formation of heart tubes.

What are the two main heart tubes formed in early development?

Left and right heart tubes.

What is the primitive pericardial cavity?

Forms around each heart tube.

What is the sinus venosus?

The inflow tract of the heart tube.

What is the aortic sac?

The outflow tract of the heart tube.

What is the process of lateral folding in embryonic development?

The flat embryo curls into a cylindrical shape.

What is the result of lateral folding on the heart tubes?

They fuse into a single primitive heart tube.

What is the role of the dorsal mesocardium?

Attaches the heart tube to the back of the pericardial cavity.

What are the main layers of the heart tube?

Endocardium and myocardium.

What is the atrioventricular canal?

Connects the primitive atrium and ventricle.

What are endocardial cushions?

Form the atrioventricular valves.

What is the septum primum?

Divides the left and right atria.

What is the ostium primum?

The first opening between the atria.

What is the septum secundum?

Covers the ostium secundum.

What is the foramen ovale?

A temporary opening between the atria.

What is the bulboventricular sulcus?

Separates the primitive ventricle from the bulbus cordis.

What is the truncus arteriosus?

The common outflow tract of the heart.

What is the aorticopulmonary septum?

Divides the truncus arteriosus into the aorta and pulmonary artery.

What are semilunar valves?

Form at the roots of the aorta and pulmonary artery.

What are aortic arches?

Temporary structures that give rise to major arteries.

What is the ductus arteriosus?

A fetal structure that shunts blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta.

What is the sinoatrial node?

The primary cardiac pacemaker.

What is the atrioventricular node?

The secondary cardiac pacemaker.

What are Purkinje fibers?

Specialized conducting cells in the ventricles.