Heart
Heart Anatomy
1. Define pulmonary and systemic circuits.
The pulmonary and systemic circuits are the two main pathways through which blood circulates
in the body. Each serves a distinct purpose in ensuring that oxygenated blood reaches the body's
tissues and that deoxygenated blood is returned to the lungs for oxygenation.
Pulmonary Circuit
The pulmonary circuit is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the right side of
the heart to the lungs, where it is oxygenated, and then returning the oxygenated blood to the left
side of the heart. Here's how it works:
1. Deoxygenated Blood Flow: Blood that has delivered its oxygen to the body's tissues
returns to the right atrium of the heart via the superior and inferior vena cava.
2. Right Ventricle: From the right atrium, the blood moves into the right ventricle.
3. Pulmonary Arteries: The right ventricle pumps the deoxygenated blood into the
pulmonary arteries, which carry it to the lungs.
4. Gas Exchange: In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the alveoli.
5. Pulmonary Veins: Oxygenated blood then returns to the left atrium of the heart through
the pulmonary veins.
Systemic Circuit
The systemic circuit is responsible for transporting oxygenated blood from the left side of the
heart to the body's tissues and returning deoxygenated blood back to the right side of the heart.
Here's the process:
1. Oxygenated Blood Flow: Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs enters the left atrium of the
heart via the pulmonary veins.
2. Left Ventricle: The blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
3. Aorta: The left ventricle pumps the oxygenated blood into the aorta, the body's main
artery.
4. Arteries and Capillaries: From the aorta, the blood travels through a network of arteries
and capillaries to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues.
5. Deoxygenated Blood Return: After exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide in the
tissues, the deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins, culminating in the
superior and inferior vena cava, which empty into the right atrium.
Summary
Pulmonary Circuit: Right heart -> Pulmonary arteries -> Lungs -> Pulmonary veins ->
Left heart (oxygenates blood)
, Systemic Circuit: Left heart -> Aorta -> Body tissues -> Veins -> Right heart (delivers
oxygen to tissues)
These two circuits work together to ensure continuous circulation of blood, maintaining oxygen
and nutrient supply to the body while removing waste products.
2. What is coronarycirculation?
Coronary Circulation
Coronary circulation is the flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart itself. The heart
requires a continuous supply of oxygen-rich blood to function efficiently, and this is provided by
the coronary arteries. Deoxygenated blood from the heart tissue is carried away by the coronary
veins.
1. Coronary Arteries: These arteries branch off from the aorta and supply oxygenated
blood to the heart muscle (myocardium). The main coronary arteries include:
o Left Coronary Artery (LCA): Splits into the left anterior descending artery
(LAD) and the circumflex artery (Cx), supplying the front and left side of the
heart.
o Right Coronary Artery (RCA): Supplies the right side and the bottom portion of
the heart.
2. Coronary Veins: These veins collect deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle and
empty it into the right atrium through the coronary sinus.
3. Identify all structural parts of heart. (Atrias, ventricles, bicuspid, tricuspid, pulmonary
and aortic valves, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles, etc.) Define all the functions
of each part
Structural Parts of the Heart and Their Functions
1. Atria (Singular: Atrium):
o Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior
and inferior vena cava.
o Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the pulmonary
veins.
2. Ventricles:
o Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary
artery.
o Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta.
3. Valves:
o Tricuspid Valve: Located between the right atrium and right ventricle; prevents
backflow of blood into the right atrium.
o Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve: Located between the left atrium and left ventricle;
prevents backflow of blood into the left atrium.
Heart Anatomy
1. Define pulmonary and systemic circuits.
The pulmonary and systemic circuits are the two main pathways through which blood circulates
in the body. Each serves a distinct purpose in ensuring that oxygenated blood reaches the body's
tissues and that deoxygenated blood is returned to the lungs for oxygenation.
Pulmonary Circuit
The pulmonary circuit is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the right side of
the heart to the lungs, where it is oxygenated, and then returning the oxygenated blood to the left
side of the heart. Here's how it works:
1. Deoxygenated Blood Flow: Blood that has delivered its oxygen to the body's tissues
returns to the right atrium of the heart via the superior and inferior vena cava.
2. Right Ventricle: From the right atrium, the blood moves into the right ventricle.
3. Pulmonary Arteries: The right ventricle pumps the deoxygenated blood into the
pulmonary arteries, which carry it to the lungs.
4. Gas Exchange: In the lungs, carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the alveoli.
5. Pulmonary Veins: Oxygenated blood then returns to the left atrium of the heart through
the pulmonary veins.
Systemic Circuit
The systemic circuit is responsible for transporting oxygenated blood from the left side of the
heart to the body's tissues and returning deoxygenated blood back to the right side of the heart.
Here's the process:
1. Oxygenated Blood Flow: Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs enters the left atrium of the
heart via the pulmonary veins.
2. Left Ventricle: The blood moves from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
3. Aorta: The left ventricle pumps the oxygenated blood into the aorta, the body's main
artery.
4. Arteries and Capillaries: From the aorta, the blood travels through a network of arteries
and capillaries to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues.
5. Deoxygenated Blood Return: After exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide in the
tissues, the deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins, culminating in the
superior and inferior vena cava, which empty into the right atrium.
Summary
Pulmonary Circuit: Right heart -> Pulmonary arteries -> Lungs -> Pulmonary veins ->
Left heart (oxygenates blood)
, Systemic Circuit: Left heart -> Aorta -> Body tissues -> Veins -> Right heart (delivers
oxygen to tissues)
These two circuits work together to ensure continuous circulation of blood, maintaining oxygen
and nutrient supply to the body while removing waste products.
2. What is coronarycirculation?
Coronary Circulation
Coronary circulation is the flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart itself. The heart
requires a continuous supply of oxygen-rich blood to function efficiently, and this is provided by
the coronary arteries. Deoxygenated blood from the heart tissue is carried away by the coronary
veins.
1. Coronary Arteries: These arteries branch off from the aorta and supply oxygenated
blood to the heart muscle (myocardium). The main coronary arteries include:
o Left Coronary Artery (LCA): Splits into the left anterior descending artery
(LAD) and the circumflex artery (Cx), supplying the front and left side of the
heart.
o Right Coronary Artery (RCA): Supplies the right side and the bottom portion of
the heart.
2. Coronary Veins: These veins collect deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle and
empty it into the right atrium through the coronary sinus.
3. Identify all structural parts of heart. (Atrias, ventricles, bicuspid, tricuspid, pulmonary
and aortic valves, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles, etc.) Define all the functions
of each part
Structural Parts of the Heart and Their Functions
1. Atria (Singular: Atrium):
o Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior
and inferior vena cava.
o Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the pulmonary
veins.
2. Ventricles:
o Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary
artery.
o Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta.
3. Valves:
o Tricuspid Valve: Located between the right atrium and right ventricle; prevents
backflow of blood into the right atrium.
o Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve: Located between the left atrium and left ventricle;
prevents backflow of blood into the left atrium.
