The Heart and Circulation

1. Heart Tissuue
A. Pericardium Fibrous protective sac enclosing heart.
B. Epicardium inner layer of pericardium.
C. Myocardium heart muscle, the major portion of the heart.
D. Endocardium smooth lining of the inner surface and cavities of the heart.

2. Heart Chambers
A. 4 Chambers total arranged in pairs, working as two pumps in sequence.
1) Right Atrium (RA) receives blood from superior and inferior vena cavae during
stytole (contraction) blood is sent to the right ventricle.
2) Right Ventricle (RV) pumps blood via the pulmonary artery to the lungs for
oxygenation; the low-pressure pulmonary pump.
3) Left Atrium (LA) receives oxygenated blood from the lungs (from the four
pulmonary veins); during systole contraction, blood is sent to the left ventricle.
4) Left Ventricle (LV) pumps blood via the aorta throughout the entire systemic
circulation; walls of the left are thicker and stronger than the right ventricle and
form most of the left side and apex of the heart; the high-pressure systemic pump.
B. Blood Flow
1) Systemic circulation to RA to RV then to lungs for oxygenation.
2) LA receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, sends blood to LV
3) LV pumps blood to the body via the aorta.
3. Valves: ensures one-way directional flow of blood through the heart; into, out-of,
and within the heart.
A) Atrioventricular valves: prevent backflow of blood into the Atria during
ventricular systole contraction; valves close when ventricular walls contract.
1) Tricuspid Valve - Right heart valve
2) Bicuspid or Mitral Valve - Left heart valve
B) Semilunar Vlaves: prevent backflow of blood from Aorta and pulmonary arteries
into the ventricles during diastole (relaxation of contraction).
1) Pulmonary valve: prevents right backflow.
2) Aortic valve: prevents left backflow.
4. Cardiac Cycle: The heart pumps. Systole: ventricular contraction, diastole:
ventricular relaxation and filling of blood. Atrial contraction occurs during last 3 rd of
relaxation and completes filling. Coronary contraction: Right coronary artery (RCA)
supplies right atrium, most of right ventricle, and the inferior wall of the left
ventricle, atrioventricular (AV) node, and bundle of His; 60% of time supplies
supplies the sinoatrial (SA) node. Left coronary artery (LCA) supplies most of the
left ventricle; has two main divisions left anterior descending (LAD) and
circumflex. Veins: parallel arterial system. Conduction: specialized tissue allows
rapid transmission of electrical impulses I the myocardium; includes nodal tissue
and Purkinje fibers.