2.

STRUCTURE OF HEART WALL, ARRANGEMENT OF

MYOCARDIUM IN THE VENTRICLES AND ATRIA (DRAW
SECTION THROUGH VENTRICLES. SKELETON OF THE HEART
The heart wall has 3 layers (from superficial to deep):
1. EPICARDIUM: thin outer layer formed by the visceral layer of
serous pericardium (mesothelium)
2. MYOCARDIUM: thick middle layer composed of cardiac muscle
3. ENDOCARDIUM: a thin internal layer (endothelium and
subendothelial CT) or lining membrane of the heart that also
cavers its valves.
Pg 143 moore figure 1.40
The myocardium is divided into two parts, the BASAL SPIRAL &
APICAL SPIRAL. The basal spiral makes up the superficial
myocardium and originates from the fibrous ring of the pulmonary
trunk, and continues as the second half called the apical spiral that
attaches on the fibrous ring of the aorta (deep myocardium). The
apical spiral is folded inwards and makes its first segment the
descending segment. Its descending muscle fibers are almost
vertical. It makes another inward fold but this time its fibers have an
ascending orientation also vertical while they wrap around the
descending ones. The criss-crossing of the descending and
ascending fibers make up the interventricular septum, hence a
double layer. The basal spiral overlaps and folds around the
chamber made by the infolding of the apical spiral forming a double
layered left ventricle and a single layered right one.
When the ventricles contract they produce a twisting motion
because of the spiral orientation of the cardiac muscle fibers in the
myocardium. The wave-like motion first propels the blood out of the
heart and then sucks blood back in.
The atria have a smooth surface posterior wall and a rough
muscular anterior wall composed of pectinate muscle. This along
with the small muscular auricle helps expel the blood into the
ventricles. The auricle also increases the capacity of the atrium.
The muscle fibers are attached are anchored to the fibrous skeleton
of the heart. This is a complex framework of dense collagen forming
four fibrous rings that surround the orifices of the valves, a right and
left fibrous trigone and the membranous parts of the atrioventricular
and interventricular septa.
The FIBROUS SKELETON of the heart:
- Keeps orifices of AV and semilunar valves strong and from
being overly distended
- Provides for myocardium

Forms an electrical insulator by SEPARATING the

myenterically conducted impulses of the atria and ventricles
so that their contraction is independent.