General Features
of the Heart
Created by: Sydney, Damon, and Jordy
• The heart has four chambers. The two ventricles and the two
atria
Four Chambers
• The Left Ventricle is the lower right part of the heart and
receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium through
the mitral valve, and pumps it into the aorta through the
corresponding valve
The Left Ventricle
• The Right Ventrical is the lower right quarter of the heart
and receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium
through the tricuspid valve, and pumps it into the
pulmonary artery through the pulmonary valve and trunk
The Right Ventricle
• The Right Atrium is the upper left part of the heart, has
relatively thin walls, and receives blood that is returning
through two large veins: the superior vena cava and the
inferior vena cava.
The Right Atrium
• The Left Atrium is the upper right chamber of the heart
and his job is to receive oxygenated blood from the lungs
and pumps it to the left ventricle which delivers it to the
body.
The Left Atrium
• Pericardium: double-walled sac that surrounds the heart
• Epicardium: layer of pericardium closest to the heart wall
• Myocardium: muscles are arranged in spiral and circular
bundles
• Endocardium: connective tissue located on the inner
surface of the myocardium
Layers of the Heart Wall
Layers of the Heart
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Epicardium - the outer layer of the wall of the heart.
Myocardium - the muscular middle layer of the wall of the heart.
Endocardium - the inner layer of the heart.
Atrioventricular Bundle - bundle of fibers that carry cardiac impulses.
Atrioventricular Node - a section of nodal tissue that delays and relays cardiac
impulses.
Purkinje Fibers - fiber branches that extend from the atrioventricular bundle.
Sinoatrial Node - a section of nodal tissue that sets the rate of contraction for the
heart.
Brachiocephalic Veins - two large veins that join to form the superior vena cava.
Common iliac Veins - veins that join to form the inferior vena cava.
Pulmonary Veins - transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
Vena Cava - transport de-oxygenated blood from various regions of the body to
the heart.
Inner and Outer Anatomy
• Allow blood to flow from one chamber to another or
allowing blood to flow out of the heart in only one
direction
• Control the flow of blood by opening and closing through
contractions of the heart
• Deoxygenated blood: right atrium -->tricuspid valve->right ventricle-->pulmonary valve-->lungs
• Oxygenated blood: left atrium-->mitral valve-->left
ventricle-->aortic valve-->aorta-->body’s organs
Valves of the Heart
Valves of the Heart
• Prevents backflow of blood into the right atrium
• Made up of 3 valve leaflets, annulus, supporting chordae
tendineae, and papillary muscles
• Located between right atrium and right ventricle
• Atrioventricular valve
• Leaflets are attached to papillary muscles that strengthen
the movement of the leaflets
• Opens when atrium contracts
Tricuspid Valve
• Prevents regurgitation of blood from the pulmonary
artery back to the right ventricle
• Formed by three cusps, supported by freestanding
musculature
• Divides right ventricle from pulmonary artery
• Semilunar valve
• Opens when right ventricle contracts
Pulmonic/Pulmonary
Valve
• Connects left atrium to left ventricle
• Sllows blood flow from LA to LV and then prevents
backflow to the LA
• 6 components
• left atrial wall, annulus, 2 leaflets, chordae tendineae,
papillary muscles, and left ventricular wall
• Atrioventricular valve
• Opens when atrium contracts
Mitral Valve
• Between left ventricle and ascending aorta
• Forms centerpiece of heart
• Prevents regurgitation of blood from the aorta into the left
ventricle
• Annulus, cusps, and commissures
• Semilunar valve
• Opens when ventricle contracts
Aortic Valve
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http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1923232-overview
http://surgery.about.com/od/beforesurgery/qt/HeartValves.htm
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/starthere/a/chambersvalves.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_ventricle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_ventricle
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-coronary-sinus.htm
http://www.innerbody.com/image_card01/card46-new2.html
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26567
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chordae_tendineae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aorta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aortic_valve
http://legacy.owensboro.kctcs.edu/gcaplan/anat2/notes/APIINotes5%20Anatomy
%20of%20the%20Heart.htm
• http://www.cts.usc.edu/hpg-valvesoftheheart-circulationofblood2.html
Sources