Heart anatomy

Plan:
Size, Location, and Orientation
Coverings
Heart Wall
Chambers
Chest x ray

Heart Anatomy
Size, Location, and Orientation
Enclosed in the mediastinum
Base (posteriorsuperior portion) and Apex (inferioranterior portion)

Heart Anatomy
Coverings
Pericardium
protects the heart
anchors the heart to surrounding structures such as the diaphragm and the great vessels
prevents overfilling of the heart with blood

Heart Anatomy
Coverings
pericardial cavity contains a film of serous fluid
pericarditis: inflammation of the pericardium which may lead to adhesions between the layers or the buildup of fluid in the pericardial cavity (cardiac tamponade)

Heart Anatomy
Heart Wall
Epicardium
Myocardium
bulk of the heart consisting mainly of cardiac muscle

Heart Anatomy
Heart Wall
Endocardium
simple squamous epithelium and a thin CT layer that lines the heart chambers and valves and is continuous with the endothelial lining of the blood vessels

Heart Anatomy
Chambers
Atria
Features
small, thin-walled chambers
Functions
receiving chambers for blood returning to the heart from the circulation
push the blood into the adjacent ventricles.

Heart Anatomy
Chambers
Atria
Receive blood from
right side
Superior and Inferior Vena Cava
Coronary Sinus (draining the myocardium)
left side
Pulmonary Veins

Heart Anatomy
Chambers
Ventricles
Features
make up most of the mass of the heart
the walls of the left ventricle are 3X thicker than those of the right

Heart Anatomy
Chambers
Ventricles
Functions
discharging chambers of the heart
propel blood to Pulmonary Trunk (right ventricle), Aorta (left ventricle)

Normal female