CARDIAC ANATOMY

& PHYSIOLOGY

REVIEWQUESTIONS - ANSWERS

Review: Heart AnatomyReview: Heart Anatomy

Review: Introduction to the HeartReview: Introduction to the Heart

Q1What is the hardest working muscle in the human body?

A1The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body.

Q2What is the function of the heart?

A2Its primary function is to pump blood though all the blood vessels of

the body.

Q3What body cavity is the heart located in?

A3The heart is located in the thoracic cavity, within the mediastinum.

Q4What anatomical structures protect the heart?

A4It is protected by the rib cage, vertebral column and sternum.

Q5Where are the apex and base of the heart?

A5The apex is located anteriorly, inferiorly.

The base is directed posteriorly, superiorly.

Review: Review: Relative AnatomyRelative Anatomy

Q6What are the two body systems that supply oxygen to the body?

A6The cardiovascular system functions together with the pulmonary

system to provide cells with a constant supply of oxygen.

Q7How is de-oxygenated blood sent to the lungs?

A7The heart pumps de-oxygenated blood to the lungs via the right and

left pulmonary arteries.

Q8How is oxygenated blood sent to the heart?

A8The lungs return oxygenated blood to the heart via the four

pulmonary veins: right & left inferior and right & left superior veins.

Q9What is an unusual feature of the pulmonary arteries?

A9The pulmonary arteries transport de-oxygenated blood.

Q10What is an unusual feature of the pulmonary veins?

A10The pulmonary veins transport oxygenated blood.

Q11Within the lungs, where does gas exchange occur?

A11The gas exchange occurs in the alveoli sacs at the ends of

bronchioles.

Review: Review: Blood VesselsBlood Vessels

Q12What are the names of the major blood vessels

that connect to the heart?

A12The major blood vessels that connect to the heart are:

the Aorta, the Superior & Inferior Vena Cava and Pulmonary Artery

Q13In what heart chamber is the aorta normally found?

A13The aorta is normally found in the left ventricle, connected by the

aortic valve.

Q14In what heart chamber are the superior and inferior vena cava

normally found?

A14The IVC and the SVC are normally found in the right atrium.

Q15What type of blood flows through the inferior and superior vena cava?

A15De-oxygenated blood flows through the IVC and SVC.

Q16What type of blood flows through the aorta?

Where does this blood go?

A16Oxygenated blood flows through the aorta.

This blood travels to all the body’s arteries.

Q17What are the four main segments of the aorta?

A17The four main segments of the aorta are:

Ascending Aorta; Aortic Arch; Thoracic Aorta; Abdominal Aorta

Q18What are the first two branches of the aortic root?

What is their function?

A18The first two branches are: Right Coronary & Left Coronary Arteries.

They supply blood for Coronary Circulation

Q19What is coronary circulation?

A19Coronary circulation is the circulation of blood within the blood

vessels of the myocardium.

Q20What vessels deliver oxygenated blood to the myocardium?

A20The coronary arteries deliver oxygenated blood to the

myocardium.

Q21What vessels remove de-oxygenated blood from the myocardium?

A21The coronary veins remove de-oxygenated blood from the

myocardium.

Q22What is another name for the coronary sulcus?

A22The coronary sulcus is also called the coronary groove.

Q23How many layers are in an artery?

A23There are three layers in an artery.

Q24What are the names of the three layers of an artery?

A24The three layers of an artery are:

Tunica Intima , Tunica Media , Tunica Aventitia.

Review: Review: Basic Heart AnatomyBasic Heart Anatomy

Q25How many chambers are in the heart?

What are they called?

A25There are four chambers:

Left & Right Atrium and Left & Right Ventricles.

Q26What chambers of the heart receive blood?

A26The chambers of the heart that receive blood are the

Left and Right Atria.

Q27What chambers of the heart send blood?

A27The chambers of the heart that send blood are the

Left and Right Ventricles.

Q28The right atrium receives blood from what sources?

A28The right atrium receives blood from:

Inferior Vena Cava, Superior Vena Cava, & Coronary Sinus.

Q29The left atrium receives blood from what sources?

A29The left atrium receives blood from

the four pulmonary veins

Q30Is the left atrium larger than the right atrium?

A30Yes, the left atrium is larger than the right atrium.

Q31What separates the left and right atrium?

What separates the left and right ventricle?

A31The interatrial septum separates the left and right atrium.

The interventricular septum separates the left and right ventricle

Q32What are the four valves of the heart?

A32The four valves are:

Mitral, Tricuspid, Aortic and Pulmonary Valves.

Q33What are the Atrioventricular Valves? Name them.

A33Atrioventricular Valves connect the atria and ventricles.

They are the Mitral Valve and Tricuspid Valve.

Q34How many Semilunar Valves are there?

Name the Semilunar Valves.

A34There are two Semilunar Valves.

They are the Pulmonary Valve and the Aortic Valve.

Q35What are the names of the Mitral Valve leaflets?

How many are there?

A35There are two Mitral Valve leaflets.

They are the Anterior and Posterior leaflets.

Q36How many cusps are in the Pulmonary Valve?

What are their names?

A36There are three cusps in the Pulmonary Valve.

They are the Anterior, Right Posterior and Left Posterior Cusps.

Q37How many cusps are in the Aortic Valve?

What are their names?

A37There are three cusps in the Aortic Valve.

They are the Non-Coronary, Right and Left Coronary Cusps.

Q38When are the Semilunar Valves open?

A38The Semilunar Valves open during ventricular systole.

Q39When are the Atrioventricular Valves closed?

A39The Atrioventricular Valves close during ventricular systole.

Q40What are the three main layers of the heart wall?

A40The three main layers of the heart wall are:Endocardium, Myocardium, and Epicardium

Q40What type of muscle is the myocardium?

A40The myocardium is a type of involuntary striated muscle.

Review: Review: Structural ComponentsStructural Components

of the Heartof the Heart

Q41Where is the Moderator Band found?

A41The Moderator Band is found in the right ventricle.

Q42Where is the Fossa Ovalis found?

A42The Fossa Ovalis is found in the right atrium.

Q43What muscular pouch is attached to the left atrium??

A43The Left Atrial Appendage (or Left Auricle)

is attached to the left atrium.

Q44What valve lies at the junction of the inferior vena cava

and the right atrium?

A44The Eustachian Valve is known as the valve of the Inferior Vena Cava

Q45What are the Chordae Tendineae?

A45They are tendons within the ventricles that link the mitral and

tricuspid valves to papillary muscles.

Q46How do the papillary muscles help to open the Atrioventricular

Valves?

A46The contraction of the papillary muscles helps to open these valves

Q47How do the papillary muscles help to close the Atrioventricular

Valves?

A47The relaxation of the papillary muscles helps to close these valves.

Q48What are some special features of cardiac muscle?

A48Cardiac muscle is involuntary striated muscle that is highly resistant

to fatigue

Q49Where does electrical activity begin in the heart?

A49Electrical Activity is initiated within a group of specialized pacemaker

cells located in the Sinoatrial Node.

Q50Where is the Sinoatrial Node located?

A50The Sinoatrial Node is located in the Right Atrium

End – Review Questions

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