AnatomyLesson 1 of 5 in the course The Cardiovascular System: The Heart

Heart Structure, Circulation, Valves, and Common Disorders

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

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Summary

The heart is a powerful muscle that beats continuously to move blood through the body. This lesson introduces its position in the chest, its overall shape, and the protective membranes and tissue layers that surround and form it.

The heart lies in the mediastinum, the central space within the thoracic cavity between the lungs. It is enclosed by the pericardium, a membrane that separates it from other mediastinal structures. The heart’s posterior surface is near the vertebral bodies; its anterior surface lies deep to the sternum and costal cartilages.

All flashcards

Where is the heart located?
It lies in the mediastinum, between the lungs in the thoracic cavity, behind the sternum and in front of the vertebral bodies.
What are the base and apex of the heart?
The base is the broad superior end where major vessels attach. The apex is the inferior tip, which points slightly left.
What does the pericardium do?
This membrane surrounds the heart, protects it, and helps maintain its position in the thorax.
What is cardiac tamponade?
A potentially life-threatening condition in which fluid in the pericardial cavity compresses the heart and interferes with its filling.
Name the three layers of the heart wall from outer to inner.
Epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The myocardium is the contractile muscle layer; the endocardium lines the chambers and valves.

Quiz questions

  1. Which vessels return oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart?Answer: Pulmonary veins
  2. What happens to the atrioventricular valves when ventricular pressure rises during contraction?Answer: They close to prevent blood from flowing back into the atria.
  3. What do papillary muscles do during ventricular contraction?Answer: They tense the chordae tendineae to help prevent valve leaflets from prolapsing.
  4. Where does the coronary sinus empty?Answer: Into the right atrium
  5. What does stenosis of a heart valve mean?Answer: The valve opening is narrowed, making blood flow through it more difficult.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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