A and P: Heart Anatomy/ Physiology

Pulmonary Veins

" Little tubes" entering from both sides of the heart seen from a superior position.

Superior side

Superior side includes the side with all of the aorta, superior vena cava, pulmonary arteries/veins "Basically the side with all of the tubes and holes"

Dorsal side

The anterior side is the side that the apex is pointing to. The posterior side is the side that lays opposite to the apex.

Apex

The apex is the pointed tip on the ventral, left, side of the heart. This is a major indictor site to tell us where we are!

Bicuspid valve

The bicuspid valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

Inferior side

The inferior side includes the rounded edge of the apex of the heart. This includes the inferior vena cava.

Pulmonary semilunar valve

The pulmonary semilunar valve is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. *Fairly high up on the right side of the heart!

Pulmonary trunk (arteries)

The pulmonary trunk is the most ventral structure on the superior view of the heart. The pulmonary trunk is the pulmonary artery which leads to the right ventricle.

Superior/inferior vena cava

The superior, and inferior vena cava can be seen on the superior, posterior view of the heart. The superior vena cava is above the inferior vena cava, and is larger in side. If looking at the hearts posterior view, the superior vena cava is in front of the aorta, and the pulmonary trunk. The inferior vena cava appears smaller than the superior vena cava, and lies below the superior vena cava. *Seen on the hearts posterior side

Chordae tendinae

The tendons that attach the heart muscle to the valves. These tendinae are little white strings around the valve.

Tricuspid Valve

The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Ventral side

The ventral side is the front side of the heart. You can tell which side is the ventral surface based off of the diagonal line of blood vessels (coronary vessels) that divide the heart.

T or F: The bicuspid valve is on the left side of the body.

True

T or F: The tricuspid valve is on the right side of the body.

True

Left Ventricle

Directly below the left atrium, separated by the bicuspid valve.

Right Ventricle

Directly below the right atrium, separated by the tricuspid valve. " A significantly smaller slit"

Aortic semilunar valve

Identify the left side of the heart, then the left atrium then ventricle, follow the path of the ventricle to find the aortic semilunar valve. This valve looks like a tiny, half moon, piece of tissue.

When looking at the entire heart from a superior view, how do you identify the arota, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, and the superior vena cava?

If holding the heart ventral side facing you, in sequential order it would go, pulmonary trunk, then aorta, to the left the superior vena cava. *In some cases to the right, a superior pulmonary vein may be visible!

Inter ventricular sulcus

Indent dividing the heart between left and right sides on the anterior portion of the heart.

Aorta

NOTE: If the heart is sliced, identify the left side of the heart, and then the left ventricle, follow this path to find the aortic semilunar valve which leads directly to the aorta. IF this is troublesome, put the heart together and look at it from the superior viewpoint. Hold the heart with its ventral side facing you. The second hole (hole behind the pulmonary trunk) IS the aorta.

Left atrium(auricle)

NOTE: If you stick your finger down the pulmonary vein, you can feel the left atrium. Right below the pulmonary vein is the left atrium. Look for the auricle to identifiy this structure.

Right atrium(auricle)

NOTE: If you stick your finger down the superior vena cava, you can feel the right atrium. Right below the superior vena cava is the right atrium. On the outside of the heart, you can see the auricle, which is a wrinkled pouch-like structure that increases surface area for the atrium.

Septum

Portion that divides the heart into its left and right chambers.

Coronary Vessels

Vessels feeding the hearts blood supply. A major vessel group is on the anterior side of the heart, running diagonal across the heart separating it into right and left sides. *Helpful in identifiying the front/back, or left/right sides of the heart.

Left side of the heart

When looking at the ventral side, the left side will be the side with the apex or the pointed end. To confirm that it really is the left side, you can squeeze the heart to confirm that the left side is harder than the right. This is because the left side pumps blood to the entire body, and the right side pumps blood to the lungs. *Below the cornoary vessels

Right side of the heart

When looking at the ventral side, the right side will be the side of the heart without the apex. This side will be less dense than the left. *Above the coronary vessels

Auricle

A wrinkled pouch-like structure located on the left and right atriums cambers of the heart that increases surface area for the atrium.