Anatomy & Physiology
The Cardiovascular System
1. Location and Size
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Located enclosed within the medial cavity of the thorax (space between the lungs). This area is
called the _________ ____
The heart is cone shaped.
-inferior to the apex is the _____________________
-lateral to the heart are the _____________________
-anterior to the heart is the ______________________
-posterior to the heart is the _____________________
The majority of the hearts mass (2/3) lies towards the left of the midline of the body
The axis of the heart lies in an oblique line
atria toward right shoulder, ventricles toward left hip
Starts at the level of the 5th rib and extends 5cm to approx. the 5th intercostals space
Draw a basic picture of the upper body and place heart in the correct orientation drawing in the:
-right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle
2. Layers of the Heart Wall
 There are 3 layers of the heart wall
a) _________________________
- = visceral pericardium
-outermost layer of the heart
-often infiltrated with fatty deposits in older people
b)____________________________
-“muscle heart”
-composed mainly of cardiac muscle
-area that actually contracts
-middle layer that forms the bulk of the heart
c)____________________________
-innermost layer- lines the inside of the heart and covers the valves
-consists of epithelium (squamous) and connective tissue (lots of collagen & elastin)
-continuous with the great vessels associated with the heart (aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava)
3. Chambers of the Heart
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The interior of the heart consists of four chambers
-2 superior chambers called ____________________
-2 inferior chambers called ____________________
The Atria
a) the right atrium receives blood from the _________________________body) from what 3
sources:
 _____________________
 _______________________
 ________________________
b) the left atrium receives blood from the ____________________________from what 4 sources:
 _____________________________
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there is a septum dividing the atria called the ________________________ ___
The Ventricles
 more massive chambers, thick myocardium
 function to pump (discharge) blood into the system
i.
the right ventricle pumps _______________________ (low O2) blood from the right
atria to the lungs (pulmonary system) via the pulmonary trunk
ii.
the left ventricle pumps _____________________ (high O2) blood from the heart into
the aorta and systemic arteries to be distributed to the tissues of the body (systemic
system).
iii.
There is a septum dividing the ventricles called the ___________________________
iv.
The myocardium of the left ventricle is much thicker than the right ventricle and pumps
at a much higher pressure. WHY?
v.
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What is the fibrous skeleton of the heart?(where located)
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a)
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What are the 3 main functions?
____________________-structure for heart valves
_____________________-point for cardiac muscle bundles
_____________________-between atria and ventricles – prevents direct propagation of
action potentials to ventricles
4. Valves of the Heart
 Blood only flows in one direction
 from the atria to the ventricles
 This unidirectional flow is controlled by 4 heart valves:
a) 2 ___________________ valves
b) 2 ____________________ valves
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Whether the valves are opened or closed depends on the ____________________ difference
on either side of the valve.
a) Atrioventricular (AV) Valves
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One located between each of the atrial-ventriclular junction
Prevent __________________of blood from the ventricles into the atria during a contraction
Blood filling the ventricles closes the valves
_________________ attach the flaps to intraventricular muscles called___________________.
During the contraction of the ventricles these muscles contract and anchor the valves in a
closed position. (prevent backflow into the atria)
There are two:
i) The right AV valve= the _________________________
- located between the right atrium and right ventricle
- has 3 flexible flaps of endocardium
ii)The left AV valve= the ________________ or the ________________
- located between the left atrium and the left ventricle
- has 2 flexible flaps of endocardium
b) Semilunar (SL) Valves
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Prevent __________________ of blood from the large arteries exiting the heart back into the
ventricles
Each is made of 3 half moon shaped cusps.
Contraction of the heart (increases or decreases) the pressure within the ventricle which
forces the valve open allowing blood to leave the heart
When the ventricle relaxes, pocket like flaps on the valve fill with back flowing blood and
_close_____the valve* prevents blood from re-entering the ventricle
There are no chordae tendoneae or papillary muscles to keep the valves closed
NOTE:
First heart sound is the closure of the AV valves
(“LUB” or “DUB”)
Second heart sound is the closure of the SL valves (“LUB” or “DUB”)
(circle correct answer)
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The blood vessels form a closed system
 __________________ carry blood away from the heart
 ___________________ carry blood toward the heart
Note: it is (not true or true) to say that arteries always carry oxygenated blood and veins always carry
deoxygenated blood. Think of the pulmonary system!
Major Veins Entering the Heart
1. ____________________ returns blood from the body regions above the diaphragm
2 .____________________ returns blood from the body regions below the diaphragm
3. ____________________ returns blood to the heart from the myocardium itself
4. _____________________ returns blood from the lungs back to the heart
Major Arteries Leaving the Heart
1._______________________ transport blood away from the heart to the lungs
2. _ __________________________ transports blood away from the heart to the body tissues
6. The Pathway of Blood Through the Heart & Pulmonary System
1. Describe the pathway for pulmonary circulation starting at the right atrium.
2. Describe the systemic circulation starting at the left ventricle.
3. Describe blood circulation involving both pulmonary and systemic circulation.
7. The Cardiac Cycle – Refer to Lecture notes for in depth explanation
 The cardiac cycle represents the events of one heartbeat
a) ____________________ refers to the contraction phase
b) _______________________ refers to the relaxation phase
** Note that the flow of blood through the heart is entirely due to pressure changes and blood
flow along a pressure gradient from high pressure to low pressure**
c) The left side of the heart exhibits high pressure (120/80) compared to the right side of the heart.
WHY?
Coronary Circulation
b)
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d)
e)
f)
the blood passing through the chambers of the heart doesn’t nourish the heart muscle
the heart itself receives it’s blood supply from _______________________
the right and left coronary arteries are the _______________ branches off the aorta
these arteries branch of the aorta at the level of the _______________________valves
the heart only receives it’s blood supply when the heart is _________________- diastole
 during systole, the open semilunar valves block the openings to the coronary arteries
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cardiac veins drain blood from the heart and empty it into an area called the
_____________________located on the posterior surface of the heart
this sinus then empties into the right atrium
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8. Heart Disease
a) What are some causes of congested heart failure
b) Fill in the appropriate statements with the answer left or right side failure of the heart.
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____________-suffocation & lack of oxygen t the tissues
____________-heart is overstretched & even more blood remains
___________-fluid builds up in tissues as peripheral edema
____________-less effective pump so more blood remains in ventricle
____________-blood backs up into lungs as pulmonary edema
c) Name 5 risk factors in heart disease (if you can come up with more that would be great!)
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d) Why is high blood cholesterol a risk factor for developing heart disease?
e) What do these symbols stand for and briefly how are they involved with cholesterol?
HDL
LDLVLDL-
f) Fill in the blanks:
There are two sources of cholesterol in the body, in foods we ________and formed by the _____
g) What are some therapies used to reduce blood cholesterol levels?
h) Match the desirable levels of blood cholesterol for adults
1 - total cholesterol
____under 130mg/dl
2 - LDL
____under 200 mg/dl
3 - HDL
____range of 10-190mg/dl (normally)
4 - triglycerides
_____over 40mg/dl
i) What is a:
 myocardial infarction(MI)?
j)
angina pectoris?-
What are some methods used in treating blood clots?