Heart and Mediastinum Learning Objectives
1. Describe the components and functions of the two circuits of the cardiovascular system
(systemic and pulmonary); explain the path of blood through each system. NESA 4.1, 4.3,
4.11, 4.12
2. Describe the organization of the major arteries and veins of the body and the regions of
the body that they serve (e.g., aorta/IVC/SVC, carotid/jugular, subclavian, axillary, brachial,
renal, common/internal/external iliac and femoral). NESA 4.12
3. Explain the organization of the three layers of the pericardium and their innervation. NESA
4.2
4. Identify the major parts of the heart, specifically its chambers, septa and sulci. NESA 4.3
5. Distinguish the features of each chamber of the heart. NESA 4.5, 4.6
6. Describe the valves of the heart and explain how they function. NESA 4.4
7. Describe the orientation of the heart in the body including the components of the heart
borders on a chest xray and the position of the heart chambers in the axial plane. NESA 4.8
8. Explain the organization of the major vessels that comprise the coronary circulation and
identify the regions of the heart that they supply and drain. NESA 4.7
9. Describe the components of the conduction system, and the nerves that modify the heart
rate. Discuss the source of autonomic nerves, where they synapse, and how they travel to
the heart. NESA 4.9, 4.10
10. Describe the three-dimensional relationships between the major structures in the
mediastinum (great vessels, heart, trachea, esophagus, azygos system of veins, phrenic
nerves, vagus nerves and sympathetic chains). lab exercise, various images in text
1. Describe the components and functions of the two circuits of the cardiovascular
system (systemic and pulmonary); explain the path of blood through each system.
The function of the systemic circuit is to deliver_______________
blood to the ____________. Blood in this system leaves the heart
through the ______________ and returns to the heart via the
____________ and _____________.
The function of the pulmonary circuit is to deliver______________
blood to the _____________. Blood enters this circuit via the
_________________ and leaves this circuit through the
__________________.
*Note – you will identify major vessels of these circuits in the next objective, so that
will cover the “explain the path” portion of this objective.
The function of the systemic circuit is to deliver oxygenated blood to
the body. Blood in this system leaves the heart through the aorta and
returns to the heart via the SVC and IVC.
The function of the pulmonary circuit is to deliver deoxygenated blood
to the lungs. Blood enters this circuit via the pulmonary arteries and
leaves this circuit through the pulmonary veins.
*Note – you will identify major vessels of these circuits in the next objective, so that
will cover the “explain the path” portion of this objective.
2. Describe the organization of the major arteries and veins of the body and the
regions of the body that they serve. Identify the labeled arteries.
common carotid a.
brachiocephalic
subclavian a.
trunk
axillary a.
aortic arch
brachial a.
aorta (descending thoracic part)
renal a.
aorta (descending
abdominal part)
common iliac a.
external iliac a.
internal iliac a.
femoral a.
Identify the labeled veins.
Some of the veins that have
the same names as the arteries
you identified are not listed.
jugular veins
SVC
IVC
common iliac v.
3. Explain the organization of the three layers of the pericardium and their
innervation.
The ______________________
is innervated by the
________________ nerve that
conveys sensations of pain.
The ______________________
is innervated by the
________________ nerve that
conveys sensations of pain.
This space is the
_________________________ .
The ______________________
is not sensitive to pain.
The fibrous pericardium is
innervated by the phrenic nerve
that conveys sensations of pain.
The parietal serous pericardium
is innervated by the phrenic
nerve that conveys sensations of
pain.
This space is the pericardial cavity.
The visceral serous pericardium
is not sensitive to pain.
4. Identify the major parts of the heart, specifically its chambers, septa and sulci.
A
A
B
C C
B
anterior view posteroinferior view
A=
B=
C=
D=
Blue dotted line =
Black dotted line =
D
A
A
B
C C
B
anterior view posteroinferior view
A = right atrium
B = right ventricle
C = left ventricle
D = left atrium
Blue dotted line = coronary sulcus
Black dotted line = interventricular sulcus
interatrial septum
interventricular
septum
5. Distinguish the features of each chamber of the heart.
right auricle
fossa ovalis
opening of
pectinate muscle
coronary sinus
pulmonary valve
tricuspid valve cusp
chordae
tendineae
papillary muscle
moderator band
trabeculae carneae
________________ part of
____________________
________________ part of
____________________
membranous part of
interventricular septum
pectinate
muscles in left
auricle
valve of
foramen ovale
aortic valve
muscular part of
interventricular septum
trabeculae carneae
mitral valve cusps
papillary muscle
6. Describe the valves of the heart and explain how they function.
Draw lines to match each valve with the structures it connects
mitral (bicuspid) valve right atrium and right ventricle
aortic valve left atrium and left ventricle
tricuspid valve right ventricle and pulmonary
trunk
pulmonary valve
left ventricle and aorta
Draw lines to match each valve with the structures it connects
mitral (bicuspid) valve right atrium and right ventricle
aortic valve left atrium and left ventricle
tricuspid valve right ventricle and pulmonary
trunk
pulmonary valve
left ventricle and aorta
A B
Circle the correct answer
Papillary muscles are contracted:
A. in picture A to open the valve cusps
B. in picture B to prevent the valve cusps from flapping back into the atria
papillary muscles
cusps open
put tension on
passively due
the chordae
to blood flow
tendineae to
hold the cusps in
a closed position
A B
Circle the correct answer
Papillary muscles are contracted:
A. in picture A to open the valve cusps
B. in picture B to prevent the valve cusps from flapping back into the atria
aorta
When semilunar valve cusps are pushed against the vessel wall, the valve is
____________.
When semilunar valve cusps are filled with blood, the valve is ____________.
When semilunar valve cusps are pushed against
the vessel wall, the valve is open.
Contraction of the ventricles forces blood
out the pulmonary trunk and aorta,
pushing the valve cusps out of the way.
When semilunar valve cusps are filled with blood,
the valve is closed.
After the ventricle stops
contracting, any blood that was
in the aorta/pulmonary trunk
falls back towards the heart with
gravity and fills the valve cups, blood that was on its way up the aortic arch,
causing the valve to close. falls back down into the valve cusp
7. Describe the orientation of the heart in the body including the components of the
heart borders on a chest xray and the position of the heart chambers in the axial plane.
Bonus – what
would be here?
Bonus – what
would be here?
aorta
SVC
Bonus – what
would be here?
pulmonary
artery
right
atrium
left ventricle
Bonus – what
would be here?
IVC
Identify the chambers
Identify the chambers
-RV is posterior to the sternum
-RA forms the right heart border, thus it is
RV adjacent to the right lung
RA
-LV forms the left heart border, thus it is
LV adjacent to the left lung
LA -LA is the most posterior chamber, closest
to the vertebral column
8. Explain the organization of the major vessels that comprise the coronary circulation
and identify the regions of the heart that they supply and drain.
anterior view
left coronary artery
in coronary sulcus
circumflex
artery
right coronary artery
in coronary sulcus
LAD
marginal artery
posterior descending artery
anterior view (PDA)
SVC
IVC
anterior view posteroinferior view
coronary sinus
SVC
great
cardiac IVC
vein
middle
cardiac
small vein
cardiac vein
anterior view posteroinferior view
The SA node typically receives blood from the __________________ artery.
The AV node typically receives blood from the __________________artery.
The chambers supplied by the right coronary artery are typically the
________________ and _________________.
The chambers supplied by the left coronary artery are typically the
_________________, _________________ and the _________________.
The SA node typically receives blood from the right coronary artery.
The AV node typically receives blood from the right coronary artery.
The chambers supplied by the right coronary artery are typically the right
atrium and right ventricle.
The chambers supplied by the left coronary artery are typically the left
atrium, left ventricle and the right ventricle.
9. Describe the components of the conduction system, and the nerves that modify the
heart rate. Discuss the source of autonomic nerves, where they synapse, and how they
travel to the heart.
SA node L bundle branch
AV node Purkinje
fibers
AV bundle
(of His) R bundle branch
You might want to wait until after the ANS session to do this page
Nerves that increase the heart rate are__________________ nerves. The
preganglionic neurons arise from the __________ levels of the spinal cord,
synapse in the __________________ and travel to the heart in postganglionic
_________________ nerves.
Nerves that decrease the heart rate are__________________ nerves. The
preganglionic neurons have cell bodies in the _______________, and axons
travel to the heart in the _________________ nerves. These neurons synapse
on ganglia in the __________________ . Postganglionic neurons are located
____________________ .
Nerves that increase the heart rate are sympathetic nerves. The
preganglionic neurons arise from the T1-L2/L3 levels of the spinal cord,
synapse in the sympathetic chain and travel to the heart in postganglionic
cardiac nerves.
Nerves that decrease the heart rate are parasympathetic nerves. The
preganglionic neurons have cell bodies in the brainstem, and axons travel to
the heart in the vagus nerves. These neurons synapse on ganglia in the
cardiac plexus/heart wall. Postganglionic neurons are located in the heart
wall (target organ).
10. Describe the three-dimensional relationships between the major structures in the
mediastinum (great vessels, heart, trachea, esophagus, azygos system of veins, phrenic
nerves, vagus nerves and sympathetic chains).
heart
diaphragm
trachea
R vagus nerve
esophagus
SVC
azygos vein
sympathetic heart
chain
L pulmonary
artery L vagus
nerve
phrenic n. and
aorta
accompanying
vessels
pulmonary
veins
diaphragm
