Chapter 19
The Heart

1. Know the key terms of chapter 19.
2. Know the size shape and position of the heart.
3. Know the function of the heart.
4. Know what the pericardium, myocardium and endocardium are and know their functions.
5. Know the names and locations of the 4 heart chambers and know where the blood goes after it is pumped from each chamber.
6. Know the internal and external anatomy of the heart.
7. Know the names, locations and functions of each of the valves associated with the heart.
8. Understand the importance of the coronary circulation.
9. Know what will happen if coronary arteries are blocked.
10. Understand what a ‘myocardial infarction’ is.
11. Understand what ‘anastomoses’ are and how they defend against damage to the heart.
12. When does blood enter the coronary arteries? Systole or diastole
13. Understand what the term ‘myogenic’ means and understand why the heart is described as myogenic.
14. Understand what the term ‘autorhythmic’ means and understand why the heart is described as autorhythmic.
15. Understand how the conduction system of the heart works.
16. Know the location and function of the SA node and understand how and where it sends its signal.
17. Know the location and function of the AV node and understand how and where it sends its signal.
18. Understand the overall effects that the AV and SA nodes have on heart contractions.
19. Understand how the heart would function if it the SA node and/or the AV nodes were damaged.
20. Understand what the terms systole and diastole mean.
21. If the terms systole and diastole are used alone, is this understood as atrial or ventricular?
22. What is the sinus rhythm for an adult at rest?
23. Understand what the nodal rhythm and instrinsic ventricular rhythm are and understand the affect they would have on an individual who had to rely on these rhythms alone.
24. Understand what a cardiac arrhythmia is.
25. Understand what a heart block is and what its effects are.
26. Understand what happens when the SA depolarizes.
27. At rest, how often does the SA node fire an action potential?
28. Which chambers of the heart does the SA node trigger to contract?
29. What part of the ventricles does systole begin?
30. Know how the firing of the SA node differs from the firing of the myocardium. (i.e. how are their actions potentials different?)
31. Understand what an ECG is and know how each wave (P wave, QRS wave and T wave) in the ECG corresponds to activities of the heart during the cardiac cycle. If shown an abnormal ECG, be able to explain what the heart is doing wrong.
32. Know the definition of the ‘cardiac cycle’ and understand what events take place during each phase of the cardiac cycle.
33. Understand what causes the heart sounds ‘lubb’ and ‘dupp’.
34. Understand what SV and EDV are.
35. Do the left and right ventricles have to eject the same amount of blood during systole? Why?
36. Understand what Cardiac Output means.
37. Know what the terms ‘bradycardia’ and ‘tachycardia’ mean and know the causes of each.
38. Understand the effects that the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have on the heart.
39. Understand the baroreflex (how baroreceptors send signals to the brain to control blood pressure.)
40. understand what the pulmonary circuit and systemic circuit are.
41. Be able to trace the path of blood from the right atrium through the pulmonary circuit and systemic circuit and back to the right atrium. (you must include the terms arteries, arterioles, veins, venules, capillaries, vena cava, and aorta in your answer.) Also, know which parts of the circulatory system carry oxygenated blood vs. Carbon dioxide rich blood.