Category 1: Heart Anatomy
This is the pointed end of the heart where the PMI (point of maximum impulse) is located.
What is the apex?
This is the contraction phase of the heart chambers.
➡️ What is systole?
This structure is the heart’s primary pacemaker.
➡️ What is the sinoatrial (SA) node?
The amount of stretch in the ventricles just before they contract.
➡️ What is preload?
A persistent heart rate slower than 60 beats per minute.
➡️ What is bradycardia?
➡️ What is the epicardium?
These chambers are the upper chambers of the heart.
What are the atria?
This principle states that the more a ventricle is stretched, the more forcefully it contracts.
➡️ What is Starling’s law of the heart?
This node relays impulses from the atria to the ventricles.
➡️ What is the atrioventricular (AV) node?
The forces that oppose the flow of blood out of the heart.
➡️ What is afterload?
A persistent heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute.
➡️ What is tachycardia?
➡️ What is the pericardial cavity?
This layer is the middle muscular layer of the heart wall.
➡️ What is the myocardium?
The ability of cardiac muscle to contract without nervous stimulation.
➡️ What is automaticity?
These fibers are the final part of the conduction system and stimulate ventricular contraction.
➡️ What are Purkinje fibers?
The valve that prevents backflow from the aorta into the left ventricle.
➡️ What is the aortic valve?
Pooling of fluid in the abdomen.
➡️ What is ascites?
➡️ What are the coronary arteries?
This is the space between the lungs and beneath the sternum where the heart sits.
➡️ What is the mediastinum?
The amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute.
➡️ What is cardiac output?
This term describes the atrial contraction that contributes the final 30% of ventricular filling.
➡️ What is the atrial kick?
The valve that regulates blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle.
➡️ What is the mitral valve?
Fluid accumulation in the lungs.
➡️ What is pulmonary edema?
➡️ What are chemoreceptors?
This semi-rigid fibrous connective tissue encircles each heart valve and supports the heart.
➡️ What is the skeleton of the heart?
This term refers to the series of events from one heartbeat to the next.
➡️ What is the cardiac cycle?
This property determines the force of ventricular contraction.
➡️ What is contractility?
The right atrioventricular valve.
➡️ What is the tricuspid valve?
Sensors in the aorta and carotid arteries that detect pressure changes.
➡️ What are baroreceptors?
➡️ What are proprioceptors?