What is the overall shape of the heart?
Heart Shape
The heart has a distinct overall shape that resembles a cone.
What is the apex of the heart?
The pointed end of the heart
The apex points downward and to the left.
What is the base of the heart?
The broad, top portion of the heart
The base is where the major blood vessels enter and exit.
What are the layers of the heart from superficial to deep?
- Pericardium
- Epicardium
- Myocardium
- Endocardium
These layers protect and support the heart’s function.
What is the pericardium?
The fibrous sac surrounding the heart
It provides protection and reduces friction during heartbeats.
What is the myocardium?
The muscular middle layer of the heart
It is responsible for the heart’s contractions.
What are intercalated discs?
Specialized connections between cardiac muscle cells
They facilitate synchronized contraction of the heart muscle.
What are the chambers of the heart?
- Right atrium (plural atria)
- Left atrium (plural atria)
- Right ventricle
- Left ventricle
These chambers are responsible for receiving and pumping blood.
What separates the atria in the heart?
Interatrial septum
This wall divides the right and left atria.
What separates the ventricles in the heart?
Interventricular septum
This wall divides the right and left ventricles.
What are the atrioventricular valves?
- Tricuspid valve
- Bicuspid valve (aka mitral valve)
These valves regulate blood flow between the atria and ventricles.
What are the features of the ventricles?
- Chordae tendineae (aka tendinous cords)
- Papillary muscles
- Trabeculae carneae
These structures support the function of the ventricles.
What are the ventricle to artery valves?
- Aortic semilunar valve
- Pulmonary semilunar valve
These valves control blood flow from the ventricles to the arteries.
What is the superior vena cava?
A large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body to the heart
It empties into the right atrium.
What is the inferior vena cava?
A large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart
It also empties into the right atrium.
What is the pulmonary trunk?
The vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs
It bifurcates into the left and right pulmonary arteries.
What are the pulmonary veins?
- Left pulmonary vein
- Right pulmonary vein
These veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
What is the ascending aorta?
The portion of the aorta that rises from the heart
It carries oxygenated blood to the body.
What is the aortic arch?
The curved portion of the aorta that distributes blood to the upper body
It branches into major arteries supplying the head, neck, and arms.
What is coronary circulation?
The flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart
It is essential for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
What are the coronary blood vessels?
- Coronary arteries
- Coronary veins
These vessels supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
