Anatomy of the Heart and Major Arteries and Veins of Systemic Circulation
Anatomy of the Heart
Gross Anatomy of the Heart
The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.
Key Structures:
Superior vena cava: Large vein carrying deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart.
Aorta: The largest artery in the body, distributing oxygenated blood to all parts.
Left pulmonary artery: Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Right pulmonary artery: Similar function as the left pulmonary artery; carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs from the right ventricle.
Right atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior venae cavae.
Right pulmonary veins: Transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Fossa ovalis: A depression in the right atrium, remnant of the foramen ovale from fetal circulation.
Right atrioventricular valve (tricuspid valve): Regulates blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Right ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via pulmonary arteries.
Chordae tendineae: Fibrous cords that connect the papillary muscles to the tricuspid and bicuspid valves, preventing valve inversion.
Inferior vena cava: Large vein bringing deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.
Left atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via pulmonary veins.
Left pulmonary veins: Carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Pulmonary semilunar valve: Controls blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.
Left atrioventricular valve (bicuspid/mitral valve): Regulates blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
Aortic semilunar valve: Controls blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.
Left ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body through the aorta.
Interventricular septum: Muscular wall separating the left and right ventricles.
Myocardium: The muscular tissue of the heart, responsible for contraction.
Visceral pericardium (epicardium): Outer layer of the heart, providing protection and lubrication.
Major Arteries of the Systemic Circulation
Arteries Overview
Responsible for distributing oxygenated blood throughout the body, originating from the heart.
Key Arteries:
Head and Trunk:
Internal carotid artery: Supplies blood to the brain.
External carotid artery: Supplies blood to the face and neck.
Common carotid arteries: Supply blood to the head and neck.
Subclavian artery: Supplies blood to the arms and some thoracic structures.
Brachiocephalic trunk: Branches into the right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery.
Aortic arch: Curved portion of the aorta from which arteries Branch.
Ascending aorta: Portion of the aorta going upward from the heart.
Coronary artery: Supplies blood to the heart muscle itself.
Thoracic aorta: Portion of the aorta running through the thorax, above the diaphragm.
Celiac trunk: Supplies blood to the foregut.
Abdominal aorta: Continuation of the thoracic aorta, dividing into common iliac arteries.
Superior mesenteric artery: Supplies blood to the small intestine and parts of the large intestine.
Renal artery: Supplies blood to the kidneys.
Gonadal artery: Supplies blood to the gonads (ovaries/testes).
Arteries that supply the upper limb:
Subclavian artery: Supplies blood to the upper limb.
Axillary artery: Supplies blood to the shoulder region.
Brachial artery: Supplies blood to the arm.
Radial artery: Supplies blood to the lateral aspect of the forearm.
Ulnar artery: Supplies blood to the medial aspect of the forearm.
Arteries that supply the lower limb:
Common iliac artery: Splits into internal and external branches to supply the pelvis and legs.
External iliac artery: Supplies blood to the lower limb.
Femoral artery: Main artery supplying the thigh.
Popliteal artery: Supplies blood to the knee area.
Internal iliac artery: Supplies blood to the pelvic region.
Anterior tibial artery: Supplies the anterior compartment of the leg.
Posterior tibial artery: Supplies the posterior compartment of the leg.