Heart Anatomy
These upper chambers of the heart receive blood from veins.
What are the atria?
This valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle.
What is the mitral (bicuspid) valve?
The phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles contract.
A: What is systole?
An ultrasound test that evaluates the heart’s structure and function.
What is echocardiography?
These vessels carry blood away from the heart.
What are arteries?
These lower chambers pump blood out of the heart.
What are the ventricles?
This valve prevents backflow between the right atrium and right ventricle.
What is the tricuspid valve?
The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.
What is cardiac output?
An imaging test using X-rays and contrast to view heart and blood vessels.
What is angiocardiography?
These microscopic vessels allow exchange of gases and nutrients.
What are capillaries?
This muscular layer of the heart is responsible for contractions.
A: What is the myocardium?
This valve prevents backflow from the aorta into the left ventricle.
What is the aortic valve?
The amount of blood pumped with each beat.
What is stroke volume?
An X-ray of the aorta after contrast injection.
What is aortography?
These small branches of arteries lead to capillaries.
What are arterioles?
This tough outer sac protects the heart.
What is the pericardium?
This valve prevents backflow from the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle.
What is the pulmonic valve?
The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
What is diastole?
This test records the electrical activity of the heart.
What is electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)?
These vessels return blood to the heart and have valves to prevent backflow.
What are veins?
This structure separates the right and left sides of the heart.
What is the septum?
The tricuspid and mitral valves are collectively called this.
What are the atrioventricular (AV) valves?
This is the time when the heart cannot respond to another stimulus.
What is the refractory period?
A more invasive imaging procedure where a catheter is inserted into the heart.
What is cardiac catheterization?
These small vessels connect capillaries to larger veins.
What are venules?