General Anatomy Module

Dr. Gamal Taha Abdelhady

Assistant Professor of Anatomy & Embryology

Anatomy of the
Cardiovascular
System
 Lecture Overview
1. Anatomy of the heart.

2. Function of the heart.

3. Blood flow through the heart.

4. Anatomy of peripheral circulation (systemic

and pulmonary)

5. Function of peripheral circulation.

 The Human Heart – Overview

◼ The adult heart is shaped like a blunt

cone and is approximately the size of a
closed fist.

◼ Larger in Males than Females, larger in

physically active adults than other
healthy adults.
 The Human Heart – Overview

◼ Generally decreases in size after

approximately age 65.

◼ The blunt, rounded point of the heart is

the apex; the larger, flat part at the
opposite end of the heart is the base.

◼ The apex of the heart lies at the left 5th

intercostal space, mid clavicular line
Surface Anatomy of the
Heart
 Surface anatomy of the
Heart
◼ The heart is located in the
mediastinum, a midline partition of
the thoracic cavity that also contains
the trachea, the esophagus and
associated structures.

◼ The heart lies obliquely in the

mediastinum, with its base directed to
the back and its apex directed to the
front and slightly directed to the left.
 The Pericardium

◼ Surrounds the heart, consisting of a dense

network of collagen fibers. It stabilizes the
position of the heart and associated vessels
within the mediastinum and consist of 2
layers
1. Fibrous Pericardium “Out”

2. Serous Pericardium “In”

Exterior Surface of the Heart
 Exterior Surface of the Heart
◼ In its typical anatomical orientation, the heart has 2
surfaces (some texts refer to 5 surfaces), formed
by different internal divisions of the heart:

◼ Anterior (or sternocostal) - Right ventricle.

◼ Posterior (or base) - Left atrium.

◼ Inferior (or diaphragmatic) - Left and right ventricles.

◼ Right pulmonary - Right atrium.

◼ Left pulmonary - Left ventricle

 Sulci of the Heart

◼ Interatrial groove: separates the two

atria and is hidden by pulmonary trunk and
aorta in front

◼ The anterior and posterior

interventricular sulci can be found
running vertically on their respective sides
of the heart. They represent the wall
separating the ventricles (Septum).
 Sulci of the Heart

◼ The coronary sulcus (or

atrioventricular groove)

◼ Runs transversely around the heart, it

represents the wall dividing the atria from
the ventricles. The sinus contains important
vasculature, such as the right coronary
artery.
 The Cardiac Muscle

◼ The heart wall consists of three distinctive

layers: an outer epicardium, a middle
myocardium, and an inner endocardium.
 The Cardiac Muscle
◼ The Epicardium is a thin serous membrane that
constitutes the smooth, outer surface of the
heart.

◼ The Myocardium, is composed of cardiac

muscle cells and is responsible for the heart’s
ability to contract.

◼ The Endocardium, consists of simple squamous

epithelium over a layer of connective tissue that
allows blood to move easily through the heart.
Cardiac Chambers
 Cardiac Chambers
◼ The heart is composed of 4 Chambers:
1. 2 chambers to the venous side of the heart
(Rt. Atrium and Rt. Ventricle).
2. 2 chambers to the arterial side of the heart
(Lt. Atrium and Lt. Ventricle).

◼Thus, the heart has 2 Atria and 2

Ventricles. They are separated by septa that
appear from the ext. surface of the heart.
Cardiac Chambers
 Myocardial Thickness and
Function
◼ Right ventricle
supplies blood to the
lungs (little flow
resistance)

◼ Left ventricle wall is

the thickest to supply
systemic circulation
Myocardial Thickness and
Function
 Cardiac Valves
◼ Cardiac chambers are interconnected to each
other through VALVES allowing passage of
the blood flow only in one direction (From Atria
to Ventricles).

◼ The right atrium and the right ventricle are

connected through a Tricuspid valve.

◼ The Left atrium and the Left ventricle are

connected through a Bicuspid “Mitral” valve.
 Cardiac Chambers

Mitral Valve
Tricuspid
Valve
 Cardiac Valves
◼ The left ventricle opens into the aorta and
the opening is guarded by the aortic
semilunar valve while the right ventricle
opens into the pulmonary artery and the
opening is guarded by the pulmonary
semilunar valve.
Semi-Lunar Valves
 Blood Supply of the Heart
◼ The major arteries supplying blood to the tissue
of the heart lie within the coronary sulcus and
interventricular sulci on the surface of the
heart.

◼ The right and left coronary arteries exit the

aorta and lie within the coronary sulcus.

◼ The right coronary artery is usually smaller in

diameter than the left one, and it does not
carry as much blood as the left coronary artery.
Blood Supply of the Heart
Blood Flow through
the Heart
Blood Flow through the Heart
 Blood Flow through the Heart
◼ Blood collects from the upper ½ of the
body through superior vena cava and from
the lower ½ of the body through the
inferior vena cava.

◼ Collected blood enters the right atrium

then through the tricuspid valve to
the right ventricle to the pulmonary
trunk through the pulmonary semi lunar
valve
 Blood Flow through the Heart

◼ From the pulmonary arteries to the lungs

performing gaseous exchange then through
the pulmonary veins to the left atrium

◼ Collected blood enters the left atrium

then through the bicuspid valve (Mitral)
to the left ventricle to the aorta
through the aortic semi lunar valve
 Systemic and Pulmonary
Circulation
◼ Systemic circulation: the left side of the
heart pumps the blood through the vessels
to the tissues of the body and back to the
right side of the heart.

◼ Pulmonary circulation: the right side of

the heart pumps the blood through the
vessels to the lungs and back to the left
side of the heart.
 Function of the Heart
◼ Generating blood pressure which is
required for blood flow through the body.

◼ Routing (directing) the blood to either

systemic or pulmonary circulation.

◼ Regulation of the blood supply to match

the need of the organ.
 Function of the Circulation
1. Carries the blood.

2. Exchange nutrients, waste products, and

gases with tissues.

3. Transport substances e.g. hormones.

4. Helps regulate blood pressure.

5. Direct blood flow to tissues when needed.

 Types of Blood Vessels

◼ Arteries: are vessels that carry blood away

from the heart, thick walled and muscular.

◼ Veins: are vessels that carry blood to the

heart, thin walled and relatively wide.
 Capillaries
◼ The smallest blood
vessels are capillaries
and they connect the
arteries and veins.

◼ Capillaries are the only

blood vessels whose
walls permit exchange
between the blood and
the surrounding
interstitial fluids
Major pulse points
◼ For further inquiries PLZ feel free
to contact at any time through
email

gamal.abdelhady@yu.edu.jo
gamal.abdelhady@med.asu.edu.eg