CV Anatomy

Question 1

Arteries

Answer 1

Carry blood away from the heart to tissues

Gradually decreasing size of vessels (arteries, arterioles, capillaries)

Question 2

3 layers of arteries

Answer 2

Tunica externa (outer layer)
Tunica media (Middle smooth muscular layer)
Tunica intima (inner layer) (smooth inner lumem, elastic laminate to maintain shape)

Question 3

3 types of arteries

Answer 3

Elastic (abdominal aorta) (largest in size, allow for high degree of expansion between heart beats)
Muscular (femoral artery) (distributing arteries, regulate flow of blood to different parts of body)
Arterioles (tributaries) (narrow lumina, thick muscular walls, blood pressure mainly regulated by degree of muscular tone)

Question 4

Blood pressure is primarily regulated at

Answer 4

Arterioles level

Question 5

Veins

Answer 5

Carry blood towards heart
Gradually increasing size of vessels (capillaries, venues, veins)
Similar structure to arteries
Walls thinner due to lower blood pressure
Poorly developed muscular layer

Question 6

3 types of veins

Answer 6

Large (inferior vena cava) (wide bundles of smooth muscle, well developed tunica externa)
Medium (great saphenous vein) (have valves to maintain direction of flow, musculovenous pump)
Small (venules) (unite to form venous plexuses)

Question 7

Blood flows through arteries and veins

Answer 7

Arteries 
Arterioles
Capillaries 
Venules 
Veins

Question 8

Arteries vs. Veins

Answer 8

Arteries have thick walls (due to smooth muscle in tunica media), veins have thin walls
Arteries have more elastic fibres in tunica media than veins
Arteries smooth muscle is under control of sympathetic nervous system, veins do not have any significant sympathetic innervation
Arteries smallest vessels (arterioles) are surrounded by smooth muscle, venules have no appreciable smooth muscle
Arteries do not have valves, medium vessels contain valves

Question 9

Capillaries

Answer 9

Simple endothelial tubes
Arranged in networks (capillary beds)
Oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and other materials exchanged through diffusion
Anatomically similar to tunica intima

Question 10

Mediastinum

Answer 10

Middle septum occupied by tissue between 2 pulmonary cavities
Covered on each side by mediastinal pleura
Tissues united by loose connective tissue and infiltrated by fat (allows for accommodation to changes in movement, volume, and pressure)

Question 11

Heart

Answer 11

Slightly larger than clenched fist
Right side receives and sends de-oxygenated blood
Left side receives and sends oxygenated blood
Each side has an atrium and a ventricle
Left is more posterior and right is more anterior

Question 12

Pericardium

Answer 12

A double walled fibroserous sac enclosing the heart
2 layers
Fibrous pericardium = tough outer layer that stabilizes and prevents over dilation
Serous pericardium = lies within and directly covers heart (can be further divided into visceral/parietal layers)

Question 13

Visceral and parietal layers of serous pericardium

Answer 13

Between them is the pericardial cavity = a space filled with fluid allowing heart to beat in a frictionless environment
Visceral = on top of organ
Parietal = superficial

Question 14

3 tissue layers of heart

Answer 14

Epicardium = thin external layer for lubrication 
Myocardium = thick middle layer for contraction 
Endocardium = thin internal layer for protection

Question 15

Walls of heart consist mostly of

Answer 15

Myocardium

Question 16

Cerebral spinal fluid + blood =

Answer 16

Plasma

Question 17

Atrium

Answer 17

“Entrance”
Smooth thin-walled interior
Musculi pectinati for contraction and movement of blood to ventricles
Interatrial septum between atria (fossa ovalis) (foramen ovale in utero)

Question 18

Ventricles

Answer 18

Pump blood out of heart
Muscular elevations called trabeculae carnage (produce vigorous contractions)
Tendinous cords extend from papillary muscles and attach to atrioventricular valves via chordae tendinae
Interventricular septum is strong oblique partition (ends at apex of heart)

Question 19

Valves

Answer 19

Prevent backflow of blood
2 atrioventricular valves (tricuspid = RA to RV) (bicuspid/mitral = LA to LV)
2 semilunar valves (pulmonary = right side) (aortic = left side)

Question 20

Cardiac cycle

Answer 20

Blood enters L/R atria and leaves via L/R ventricles
Period of relaxation (diastole)
Semilunar valves closing at end of ventricular diastole = “dub”
Period of contraction (systole)
AV valves shutting right before ventricular systole = “lub”
Sounds produced by snapping shut of one-way valves

Question 21

Cardiovascular circulation (right side)

Answer 21

De-oxygenated blood from the superior/inferior vena cava and coronary sinus enter right atrium
Travels through tricuspid atrioventricular valve to right ventricle
From right ventricle travels through pulmonary semilunar valve to pulmonary trunk
Pulmonary trunk divides into L/R pulmonary arteries to travel to each lung

Question 22

Cardiovascular circulation (left side)

Answer 22

Oxygenated blood from L/R inferior/superior pulmonary veins enter left atrium
Travels through bicuspid (mitral) atrioventricular valve to left ventricle
From left ventricle travels through aortic semilunar valve to ascending aorta
Aorta gives off brachiocephalic, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries and continues as descending aorta (blood enters general circulation)

Question 23

Where does right atrium get blood from

Answer 23

Superior vena cava
Inferior vena cava
Coronary sinus

Question 24

Where does left atrium get blood from

Answer 24

Left superior pulmonary vein
Left inferior pulmonary vein
Right superior pulmonary vein
Right inferior pulmonary vein