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- Conduction system of the heart pdf basics series#
- Conduction system of the heart pdf basics download#
The coronary sinus is a collection of coronary veins (small, middle, great and oblique veins, left marginal vein and left posterior ventricular vein) that drain into the RA at the posterior aspect of the heart. The venous drainage system of the heart uses the coronary veins, which follow a course similar to that of the coronary arteries. The left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) are separated from the right atria (RA) and right ventricle (RV) by a band of tissue called the septum. The atria receive blood returning to the heart, while the ventricles receive blood from the atria – via the atrioventricular valves – and pumps it into the lungs and the rest of the body (Fig 2a). A film of serous fluid between the fibrous and serous pericardium that allows them to glide smoothly against each other.The serous pericardium or epicardium, composed of the parietal and visceral layers.The fibrous pericardium, composed of a loosely fitting but dense layer of connective tissue.The pericardium is attached to the diaphragm and inner surface of the sternum, and is made up of: The heart is enclosed in a sac, the pericardium, which protects it and prevents it from over-expanding, anchoring it inside the thorax. The inside of the heart (heart cavity) is divided into four chambers – two atria and two ventricles – separated by cardiac valves that regulate the passage of blood. The heart has a middle muscular layer, the myocardium, made up of cardiac muscle cells, and an inner lining called the endocardium. This article describes the heart’s anatomy and physiology. Basically, the heart is a pump ensuring the continuous circulation of blood in the body. A muscle that contracts rhythmically and autonomously, it works in conjunction with an extensive network of blood vessels running throughout the body. The heart is the key organ of the cardiovascular system – the body’s transport system for blood.
Conduction system of the heart pdf basics download#
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Conduction system of the heart pdf basics series#
This first article in a two-part series covers anatomy and physiology, and the second part discusses pathophysiology.Ĭitation: Jarvis S, Saman S (2018) Cardiac system 1: anatomy and physiology. A solid and methodical understanding of how the heart works is key to understanding what can go wrong with it. It has its own circulation system and receives electric impulses that make it contract and relax, which triggers a sequence of events forming the cardiac cycle. The heart is a complex organ that pumps blood through the body with an intricate system of muscle layers, chambers, valves and nodes.
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