Anatomy & Landmarks
This term refers to the bottom, pointed part of the heart.
What is the apex?
This is the largest artery in the human body.
What is the aorta?
This side of the aorta is the point of origin for the Right Coronary Artery (RCA).
What is the right side?
This branch of the nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
The heart is located in this central compartment of the thoracic cavity, situated between the lungs
What is the mediastinum?
This type of circulation describes the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back again.
What is pulmonary circulation?
A blockage in the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery is commonly known by this grim nickname.
What is the widow-maker?
This neurotransmitter is released by the parasympathetic system to reduce heart rate.
What is acetylcholine (ACh)?
This is the fluid-filled, double-walled sac that surrounds and protects the heart from infection and trauma
What is the pericardium?
While most arteries carry oxygenated blood, this specific artery is the exception.
What is the pulmonary artery?
The Left Main Coronary Artery branches into the LAD and this other vessel.
What is the Circumflex artery?
This area of the brain is the primary site for regulating sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow to the heart.
What is the medulla?
These fibers, which participate in heart contraction, are located specifically within the endocardium.
What are the Purkinje Fibers?
This vessel receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and delivers it to the left atrium.
What is the pulmonary vein?
This node is supplied by the Right Coronary Artery in approximately 60% of patients.
What is the Sino-atrial (SA) node?
Also known as adrenaline, this substance acts as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter.
What is epinephrine?
These tendon-like cords connect the papillary muscles to the atrioventricular valves to prevent valve prolapse
What are the chordae tendinae?
These microscopic vessels carry blood at the cellular level, bridging the gap between arteries and veins.
What are capillaries?
The LAD provides the primary blood supply to this wall that separates the heart's lower chambers.
What is the interventricular septum?
This specific cranial nerve acts as the "braking system" for the heart, carrying parasympathetic signals that lower the heart rate.
What is the Vagus nerve (CN X)?
Starting at the Right Atrium, a drop of blood must pass through two specific valves to reach the lungs. Upon returning to the heart, it enters the chamber supplied by the Circumflex artery. Identify these two valves in the correct order, the chamber it returns to, and the neurotransmitter that would be released to increase the heart's force of contraction during this journey.
1. Valves: Tricuspid Valve → Pulmonary Valve (in that order).
2. Chamber: Left Atrium.
3. Neurotransmitter: Epinephrine (or Norepinephrine).