The Heart: Anatomy and Function

Vocabulary flashcards related to the anatomy and function of the heart based on lecture notes.

Anterior interventricular artery

Artery located on the anterior surface of the heart, between the ventricles.

Heart

A roughly cone-shaped, four-chamber muscular organ located in the thoracic cavity.

Mediastinum

The space in the thoracic cavity between the lungs where the heart is located.

Pericardium

A sac surrounding the heart.

Fibrous pericardium

The outer layer of the pericardium, made of tough connective tissue.

Serous pericardium

The inner layer of the pericardium, composed of the parietal and visceral layers.

Pericardial cavity

Space between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium, containing a small amount of fluid.

Epicardium

The thin, serous membrane that constitutes the smooth outer surface of the heart; also known as the visceral pericardium.

Myocardium

The thick, contractile layer of the heart composed of cardiac muscle cells.

Endocardium

The smooth inner surface of the heart chambers, consisting of simple squamous epithelium.

Apex of Heart

The inferior part of the heart formed by the inferolateral part of the left ventricle.

Base of Heart

The posterior aspect of the heart, formed mainly by the left atrium.

Coronary sulcus

Groove that circles the heart, separating the atria from the ventricles.

Interventricular sulci

These sulci separate the two ventricles.

Musculi pectinati

Ridges called found in the wall of the right atrium.

Valve of coronary sinus

Opening of coronary sinus in the right atrium is the…

Fossa ovalis

Oval fossa in the interatrial septum; marks the location of the embryonic foramen ovale.

Trabeculae carneae

Numerous muscular ridges and columns in the right ventricle.

Papillary muscles

Muscles attached to the ventricular surface connected to chordae tendineae.

Chordae tendineae

Tendon-like fibrous cords connecting papillary muscles to the cusps of the tricuspid valve.

Tricuspid Valve

Valve that closes the right atrioventricular orifice; has three cusps.

Pulmonary Valve

Valve that closes the opening into the pulmonary trunk; has three semilunar cusps.

Musculi pectinati

Ridges contained in left atrium wall.

Mitral valve

Valve that closes the left atrioventricular orifice; also known as the bicuspid valve; has two cusps.

Aortic Valve

Opening from the left ventricle into the aorta is closed by the…

Cardiac skeleton

A collection of dense, fibrous connective tissue forming four rings between the atria and ventricles.

Coronary arteries

Two arteries that arise from the aortic sinuses and circle the heart in the coronary sulcus.

Cardiac innervation

Regulates the heart rate, force of each contraction and cardiac output.

Auto rhythmic cells

Act as a pacemaker, setting the rhythm for the contraction of the entire heart.

Pericarditis

Condition: Inflammation of the pericardium

Cardiac tamponade

Condition: Excess fluid in the pericardial cavity, leading to compression of the heart

Constrictive pericarditis

Condition: Abnormal thickening of the pericardial sac, compressing the heart.

Tetralogy of fallot

Condition: A congenital heart defect characterized by misplaced or overriding aorta, pulmonary valve stenosis, right ventricle hypertrophy

Dextrocardia

When the heart is located on the right side.