Biology 2122 – Review – The Heart and Cardiovascular System (Chapter 18)
Vocabulary: pericardium; epicardium; myocardium; endocardium; atria; ventricles; septum; auricles; fossa ovalis; vena cava;
myocardial infarction; arrhythmias; fibrillation; electrocardiograph; electrocardiogram; systole; diastole; cardiac
output; stroke volume; cardiac reserve; Frank-Starling law of the heart; tachycardia; bradycardia
Important Concepts
I.
Anatomy of the Heart
1. Size and Location
 Know the size, weight, and specific location (mediastinum)
 Compare the base and apex
2. Covering and Layers
 Know the layers of the pericardium (fibrous, serous)
 Distinguish between the layers of the serous pericardium (parietal, visceral)
 Pericardial cavity contains serous fluid; know function of serous fluid
 Distinguish between the epicardium, myocardium and the endocardium
o Myocardium and bundle formation
o Significance of the fibrous skeleton
3. Chambers and Great Vessels of Heart
 Distinguish between the interatrial and interventricular septum
 Know the following structural parts (coronary sulcus; anterior and posterior interventricular sulcus
 Distinguish between the atria and ventricles of the heart
 Know the following about the atria
o Features: auricles; pectinate muscles; fossa ovalis
o Function of the atria
o Role of the Superior and Inferior Vena Cava
o Know the three veins from which blood enters the heart from the right side (vena cava and coronary
sinus)
o Know the blood vessels that returns blood to the left side of the heart (pulmonary veins)
 Know the following about the ventricles
o Know the function of the ventricles
o Know the internal features: trabeculae carnea and papillary muscles
o Know that the right ventricle contracts and sends blood to the pulmonary arteries(pulmonary trunk)relate to the pulmonary circuit; Left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta which sends blood to all
parts of the body (except for the lungs)
4. Circulation
 Distinguish between the pulmonary and systemic circulation pathways
5. Coronary Circulation
 Left Coronary artery
o Major branches: anterior interventricular artery (left descending) and Circumflex artery
 Left Descending: Supplies blood to the interventricular sulcus and septum, and anterior
ventricular walls; Circumflex supplies blood to left atrium and posterior wall of left ventricle
 Right Coronary artery
o Divides into marginal artery (serves myocardium of lateral right side) and posterior interventricular
artery (supplies posterior ventricular walls)
 Veins-Venous Circulation
o Know the location and functions of the following: cardiac veins, coronary sinus; great, middle and
small cardiac veins; anterior cardiac veins
6. Valves
 Know the locations, features and functions of the following valves
o Atrioventricular Valves
 Distinguish between the tricuspid and mitral valve
 Know the function of the chordae tendineae
 Know how the valves open and close during the beating of the heart
o Semilunar Valves
 Know how these valves open and close during the beating of the heart
7.
8.
9.
II.
Microscopic Anatomy
 Histology of Cardiac muscle tissue
o Striated, intercalated discs and gap junctions; functional syncytium
o High mitochondria content
Contraction of Heart Tissue
 Self-excitable or autorhythmic cells
 Contraction as a ‘unit’
 Longer absolute refractory periods than skeletal muscle
 Know the following:
o Minor differences between skeletal and cardiac depolarization except for how SR is stimulated to
release calcium to cause a contraction
o Greater concentration of mitochondria – more oxygen requirements; relies on aerobic respiration
Heart Conditions and Disorders
 Know the causes, characteristics and effects of the following conditions: Pericarditis; Angina pectoris; Stenosis
Physiology of the Heart
1. Intrinsic Conduction System – Know the following
 Know the function of the intrinsic conduction system
 Know the role of the autorhythmic cells (pacemaker)
 Know the sequence of excitation (sinoatrial node ---- Atrioventricular node --- Atrioventricular bundle --
bundle branches ---- Purkinje fibers
o Know how each is started, time period, location and any specific characteristics
2. Extrinsic Innervation
 Know the overall function of the extrinsic controls
 Know the location and function(s) of the cardioacceleratory center and the cardioinhibitory center
 Distinguish between the parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers and their effects on the beating of the heart
3. Electrocardiography
 Know how an electrocardiogram is produced
 Know how to interpret a simple ECG; distinguish between the specific waves
o Know what produces the waves and how long they last; what part of the heart they are associated
with, etc.
4. Heart Sounds
 Know how the sounds of the heart are produced
5. Cardiac Cycle
 Distinguish between systole and diastole
 Define ‘cardiac cycle’
 Know the events associated with each part of the cycle
o Ventricular filling; ventricular systole; isovolumetric relaxation
6. Cardiac Output
 Define ‘cardiac output’ and ‘stroke volume’ ; know the heart rates for both
 Know the normal blood volume for adults
 Define ‘cardiac reserve’
 Know the following about the regulation of Stroke Volume
o Distinguish between EDV and ESV and its relation to stroke volume
o How much blood the ventricle pumps out with each beat; 60% of total chamber volume
o EDV is major intrinsic factor that influences stroke volume
 Know the following about Preload and the Frank-Starling Law of the heart
o Know the Frank-Starling Law and its effect on stroke volume, stretching of heart fibers, effect on
venous return, etc.
 Know the following about Contractility
o Independent of muscle stretch and EDV
o Effects of Ca++ on contractility
 Know the following about Afterload
o Define ‘afterload’
o Effect(s) on stroke volume
7.
8.
Regulation of Heart Rate
 Know how the ANS regulates heart rate
o Parasympathetic and sympathetic effects
 Norepinephrine – sympathetic
 Opposition of the parasympathetic
 Vagal tone
 Chemical Regulation
o Know the effects of the hormones epinephrine and thyroxine on heart rate
o Know how ion imbalances affect heart rate: hypo- and hypercalcemia; hyperkalemia and hypokalemia
Disorders- Know the causes, characteristics and effects of the following disorders
 Tachycardia; Bradycardia
 Heart Murmurs
 Arrhythmias and fibrillation
 Congestive heart failure