Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Which structure separates the right and left ventricles?

Answer: Interventricular septum

The interventricular septum is the muscular wall dividing the right and left ventricles, helping maintain separate systemic and pulmonary circulation pressures.

The aortic valve opens during which phase of the cardiac cycle?

Answer: Ventricular ejection (systole)

The aortic valve opens when left ventricular pressure exceeds aortic pressure during systole, allowing blood to be ejected into the aorta.

Which vessel carries oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart?

Answer: Pulmonary veins

The four pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium, completing the pulmonary circuit.

What is the approximate resting heart rate range considered normal for adults?

Answer: 60–100 beats per minute

A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60–100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia and above 100 is tachycardia.

The Purkinje fibers are responsible for which function in the heart?

Answer: Rapidly conducting impulses throughout the ventricular myocardium

Purkinje fibers are specialized conduction cells that rapidly distribute electrical impulses through the ventricular walls to coordinate simultaneous contraction.

Which chamber of the heart has the thickest myocardial wall and why?

Answer: Left ventricle, because it pumps against high systemic vascular resistance

The left ventricle has the thickest wall because it must generate enough pressure to overcome systemic vascular resistance and pump blood throughout the entire body.

Blood from the superior and inferior vena cava drains into which chamber?

Answer: Right atrium

Both the superior vena cava (upper body) and inferior vena cava (lower body) return deoxygenated blood to the right atrium to begin pulmonary circulation.