PHA 618 Laboratory

Human Physiology and Pathophysiology

Ex 31 – Anatomy of the Heart
Heart Anatomy
• Heart – muscular pump
• Four chambers (right & left atria & ventricle)

• Contracts continuously

• Exhibits auto-rhythmicity

• 5 in long, 3.5 in wide and 2.5 in thick

• Female: 250g while male: 300g

• Rests in the mediastinum and diaphragm

Position of the Heart

Copyright 2010, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

 Pericardium
• Pericardium – membrane that surrounds
and protects the heart
• Fibrous Pericardium
• tough, dense and inelastic connective tissue
• prevents the overstretching of the heart
• Serous Pericardium
• thinner, more delicate
• forms a double layer around the heart
• Parietal Layer
• Visceral Layer
• Pericardial space (w/ pericardial fluid) –
reduces friction
Heart Wall
• Epicardium - outer layer

• Myocardium - cardiac muscle

• Two separate networks via gap junctions in
intercalated discs - atrial & ventricular
• Networks- contract as a unit

• Endocardium - Squamous epithelium

• lines inside of myocardium
Chambers of the Heart
• 4 chambers
• 2 upper chambers = Atria
• Between is interatrial septum
• Contains fossa ovalis - remnant of foramen ovalis
• 2 lower chambers = ventricles
• Between is interventricular septum
• Wall thickness depends on work load
• Atria thinnest
• Right ventricle pumps to lungs & thinner than left
Great Vessels of the Heart (Right)
• Superior & inferior Vena Cavae
• Delivers deoxygenated blood to R. atrium from body
• Coronary sinus drains heart muscle veins
• R. Atrium  R. Ventricle
• pumps through Pulmonary Trunk
• R & L pulmonary arteries
•  lungs
Great Vessels of the Heart (Left)
• Pulmonary Veins from lungs
• oxygenated blood
• L. atrium Left ventricle
• ascending aorta body
• Between pulmonary trunk & aortic arch is ligamentum arteriosum
Valves of the Heart
• Atrioventricular valves
• Allows flow from atria to ventricles

• Prevents backflow

• Tricuspid valve: between R atrium and ventricle

• Bicuspid valve (or mitral valve): between L atrium and ventricle

Valves of the Heart
• Semilunar valves
• Located at base of blood vessels attached to ventricles
• Pulmonary semilunar valve: between R ventricle and pulmonary trunk
• Aortic semilunar valve: between L ventricle and aorta
Structure of the Heart