Anatomy of
the
Heart
Video
Heart Shape
and Make-up
• Nine (9) inches long x three (3) inches
wide.
– Size of a fist
– Triangular
• Involuntary striated muscle tissue
– Only found in this organ.
• Beats 60-100 times per minute
– 2.5 billion times during an average lifespan.
Heart Location
• Base--attached to several large blood
vessels and lies beneath the second rib.
• Apex—
– at the fifth intercostal space
– Points towards the left
• Located within the mediastinum, bordered
laterally by the lungs, posterior is the
backbone, and anterior is the sternum
Pericardial Cavity
• Pericardium
– Located between the parietal and visceral
layers
• Fluid filled sack that surrounds the heart
– Pericardial fluid
– Several functions
• Keeps the heart contained in the chest cavity
• Prevents the heart from over expanding when
blood volume increases
• Prevents friction (rubbing with beats)
Pericardium
Layers
• Made up of three (3)
distinct layers:
• Outer epicardium
• Myocardium
• Inner endocardium
Epicardium
• Corresponds to the visceral pericardium.
• Functions as an outer protective layer.
• Serous membrane that consists of
connective tissue covered by epithelium.
• Includes blood capillaries, lymph
capillaries, and nerve fibers.
Myocardium
• Relatively thick.
• Consists largely of cardiac muscle tissue
responsible for forcing blood out of the heart
chambers.
• Muscle fibers are arranged in planes, separated
by connective tissues that are richly supplied
with blood capillaries, and nerve fibers.
Endocardium
• Consists of epithelial and connective tissue that
contains many elastic and collagenous fibers.
• Connective tissue also contains blood vessels
and some specialized cardiacmuscle fibers
called Purkinje fibers.
• Lines all of the heart chambers and covers heart
valves.
• Is continuous with the inner lining of blood
vessels--endothelium.
READ
Handout
Anatomy of
the
Heart
Tuesday
Vena Cava
• Superior Vena Cava
– Bringing de-oxygenated blood
• Upper body to the right atrium of the heart
• Inferior Vena Cava
– Bringing de-oxygenated blood
• Lower body to the right atrium of the heart
Chambers
• Atria
– Two chambers at the top
– Right
• Receives deoxygenated blood from the superior
and inferior vena cava
– Left
• It receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary
veins
Chambers
• Ventricles
– Two chambers at the bottom
– Right
• It receives deoxygenated blood from the right
atrium
– Left
• It receives oxygen rich blood from the left atrium
– Video
Video
Coronary Arteries
• Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart
muscle
– oxygen-rich blood to function
– oxygen-depleted blood must be carried away
– consist of two main arteries
• the right and left coronary arteries.
Valves
• Tricuspid
– valve is between the right atrium and right
ventricle.
• Pulmonary
– valve is between the right ventricle and the
pulmonary artery.
Valves
• Mitral (Bicuspid)
– valve is between the left atrium and left
ventricle.
• Aortic
– valve is between the left ventricle and the
aorta.
• Each valve has a set of flaps (also called leaflets
or cusps). When working properly, the heart
valves open and close fully.
Vessel Valves
• Pulmonary Valve
– semilunar valve of the heart that lies between
the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
and has three cusps.
• Aortic Valve
– It lies between the left ventricle and the aorta
– video
Repair of Tricuspid Valve
video
READ
Handout
Anatomy of
the
Heart
Wednesday
Importance of Coronary Arteries
• Coronary artery disorder or disease
– Reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to
the heart
• leads to a heart attack and possibly death.
• Video
– Atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque in the
inner lining of an artery causing it to narrow or
become blocked) is the most common cause
of heart disease.
Vessels
•
•
•
•
•
•
Video
Superior Vena Cava
Inferior Vena Cava
Aorta
Pulmonary Artery
Pulmonary Vein
Aorta
• Largest single blood vessel in the body
– diameter of your thumb
– carries oxygen-rich blood from the left
ventricle to the various parts of the body
• Aortic Arch
– Top curve of the aorta
READ
Handout
Anatomy of
the
Heart
Thursday
Pulmonary Artery
• Vessel transporting de-oxygenated blood
from the right ventricle to the lungs
• A common misconception is that all
arteries carry oxygen-rich blood
– It is more appropriate to classify arteries as
vessels carrying blood away from the heart.
Pulmonary Vein
• Vessel transporting oxygen-rich blood
from the lungs to the left atrium
• A common misconception is that all
veins carry de-oxygenated blood
it is more appropriate to classify veins as
vessels carrying blood to the heart
Video-blood flow
Video
• video
Oxygen Exchange
Entire
Cycle
• video- blood flow
• Lyrics
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Handout