AnatomyLesson 1 of 4 in the course Cardiovascular anatomy

Heart Anatomy, Circulation, Conduction, and Development

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The heart is a muscular pump whose chambers, walls, valves, and surrounding structures work together to keep blood moving. Understanding its basic anatomy makes it easier to follow circulation and recognize how heart problems can affect the body.

The human heart lies between the lungs in the mediastinum, behind the sternum. It is cone-shaped, with its broad base above and its pointed apex directed down and to the left. The heart is usually slightly left of the chest’s midline. The left lung has a cardiac notch that makes room for it.

All flashcards

Mediastinum
The central chest compartment between the lungs, where the heart is located.
Chordae tendineae
Strong cords connecting atrioventricular valve cusps to papillary muscles.
Heart wall layers
The endocardium lines the chambers, the myocardium is the muscle layer, and the epicardium covers the heart’s surface.
Frank–Starling mechanism
Within physiological limits, greater initial ventricular stretch produces a stronger contraction.
Foramen ovale
A fetal opening that allows blood to pass from the right atrium to the left atrium.

Quiz questions

  1. What does pulmonary circulation describe?Answer: Blood traveling from the heart to the lungs and back.
  2. When does the pulmonary valve normally open?Answer: When right ventricular pressure exceeds pulmonary artery pressure.
  3. Where does the normal sinus-rhythm impulse begin?Answer: In the sinoatrial node in the upper right atrium.
  4. What does an electrocardiogram primarily record?Answer: The heart’s electrical activity.
  5. What does valve stenosis mean?Answer: The valve opening is narrowed.

Based on the Wikipedia article Heart, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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