ECGs Made Easy Chapter 1 - Anatomy and Physiology
The heart is a hollow muscular organ that lies in the space between the lungs (_______) in the middle of
the chest. It sits behind the _____ and just above the _____ - (correct Answer) - Mediastinum, sternum,
diaphragm
About 2/3 of the heart lies to the _____ of the midline of the sternum - (correct Answer) - Left
The ______, or posterior surface, of the heart is formed by the left atrium, a small portion of the right
atrium, and proximal portions of the superior and inferior venae cavae and the pulmonary veins -
(correct Answer) - Base
The front (______) surface of the heart lies behind the sternum and costal cartilages. It is formed by
portions of the right atrium and the left and right ventricles - (correct Answer) - Anterior
Because the heart is slightly tilted to the left in the chest, the _____ _____ is the area of the heart that
lies most directly behind the sternum - (correct Answer) - Right ventricle
The ______, or lower portion, of the heart is formed by the tip of the left ventricle. Lies just above the
diaphragm at about the level of the _____ intercostal space in the midclavicular line - (correct Answer) -
Apex, 5th
Because the inferior surface of the heart rests on the ______, it is also called the ______ surface -
(correct Answer) - Diaphragm, diaphragmatic
The _______ is a double-walled sac that encloses the heart and helps protect it from trauma and
infection - (correct Answer) - Pericardium
The tough outer layer of the pericardial sac is called the ______ _______ pericardium. It anchors the
heart to some of the structures around it, such as the sternum and diaphragm, by means of ligaments.
Helps prevent excess movement - (correct Answer) - Fibrous parietal pericardium
The inner layer of the pericardium, the ______ pericardium, consists of 2 layers: _____ and _____ -
(correct Answer) - Serous pericardium, parietal and visceral
The ______ layer of the serous pericardium lines the inside of the fibrous pericardium. The ______ layer
of the serous pericardium attaches to large vessels that enter/exit the heart and covers the outer surface
of the heart muscle (i.e. the ______) - (correct Answer) - Parietal layer, visceral layer, epicardium
Between the visceral and parietal layers is a space (the pericardial space) that normally contains about
_____ mL of serous (pale yellow and transparent) fluid. This fluid acts as a lubricant, preventing friction
as the heart beats - (correct Answer) - 20 mL
If the pericardium becomes inflamed (_______), excess pericardial fluid can be quickly generated in
response to the inflammation. Can result from bacterial or viral infection, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors,
destruction of the heart muscle in a heart attack, among other causes - (correct Answer) - Pericarditis
, Heart surgery or trauma to the heart, such as a stab wound, can cause rapid buildup of blood in the
pericardial space. The buildup of excess blood or fluid in the pericardial space compresses the heart. This
can affect the heart's ability to ______ and _____ with blood between heartbeats - (correct Answer) -
Relax and fill
If the heart cannot adequately fill with blood, the amount of blood the ventricles can pump out to the
body (_____ ______) will be decreased. As a result, the amount of blood returning to the heart is also
decreased. These changes can result in _____ _____ - (correct Answer) - Cardiac output, cardiac
tamponade
The rapid buildup of as little as ____-____ mL of fluid or blood can be enough to result in signs and
symptoms of shock - (correct Answer) - 100-150 mL
_____ mL of fluid may build up over a longer period without any significant effect on the heart's ability
to fill. This is because the pericardium accomodates the increased fluid by stretching over time - (correct
Answer) - 1000 mL
______ is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the pericardial space and the excess fluid is
sucked out (aspirated) through the needle - (correct Answer) - Pericardiocentesis
The right and left ______ nerves, which innervate the diaphragm, pass through the fibrous pericardium
as they descend to the diaphragm. Because these nerves supply sensory fibers to the fibrous
pericardium, the parietal serous pericardium, and the mediastinal pleura, discomfort related to
conditions affecting the pericardium may be felt in the areas above the ______ or lateral _____ - (correct
Answer) - Phrenic, shoulders, neck
The walls of the heart are made up of 3 tissue layers: the _____, ______, and _____ - (correct Answer) -
Endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium
The heart's innermost layer, the ______, is made up of a thin, smooth layer of epithelium and connective
tissue and lines the heart's inner chambers, valves, chordae tendonae, and papillary muscles - (correct
Answer) - Endocardium
The terminal components of the heart's specialized conduction system can be found in the endocardium.
This layer is continuous with the innermost layer of the ______, ______, and ______ of the body,
creating a continuous, closed circulatory system - (correct Answer) - Arteries, veins, and capillaries
The ______ (middle layer) is a thick, muscular layer that consists of cardiac muscle fibers (cells)
responsible for the pumping action of the heart. Makes up about _____% of the total left ventricular
mass - (correct Answer) - Myocardium, 30%
The heart's outermost layer is called the ______. Continuous with the inner lining of the pericardium at
the heart's apex. Contains blood capillaries, lymph capillaries, nerve fibers, and fat - (correct Answer) -
Epicardium
The main _____ _____ lie on the epicardial surface of the heart. They feed this area first before entering
the myocardium and supplying the heart's inner layers with oxygenated blood - (correct Answer) -
Coronary arteries
______ is a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part or organ - (correct Answer) - Ischemia
The heart is a hollow muscular organ that lies in the space between the lungs (_______) in the middle of
the chest. It sits behind the _____ and just above the _____ - (correct Answer) - Mediastinum, sternum,
diaphragm
About 2/3 of the heart lies to the _____ of the midline of the sternum - (correct Answer) - Left
The ______, or posterior surface, of the heart is formed by the left atrium, a small portion of the right
atrium, and proximal portions of the superior and inferior venae cavae and the pulmonary veins -
(correct Answer) - Base
The front (______) surface of the heart lies behind the sternum and costal cartilages. It is formed by
portions of the right atrium and the left and right ventricles - (correct Answer) - Anterior
Because the heart is slightly tilted to the left in the chest, the _____ _____ is the area of the heart that
lies most directly behind the sternum - (correct Answer) - Right ventricle
The ______, or lower portion, of the heart is formed by the tip of the left ventricle. Lies just above the
diaphragm at about the level of the _____ intercostal space in the midclavicular line - (correct Answer) -
Apex, 5th
Because the inferior surface of the heart rests on the ______, it is also called the ______ surface -
(correct Answer) - Diaphragm, diaphragmatic
The _______ is a double-walled sac that encloses the heart and helps protect it from trauma and
infection - (correct Answer) - Pericardium
The tough outer layer of the pericardial sac is called the ______ _______ pericardium. It anchors the
heart to some of the structures around it, such as the sternum and diaphragm, by means of ligaments.
Helps prevent excess movement - (correct Answer) - Fibrous parietal pericardium
The inner layer of the pericardium, the ______ pericardium, consists of 2 layers: _____ and _____ -
(correct Answer) - Serous pericardium, parietal and visceral
The ______ layer of the serous pericardium lines the inside of the fibrous pericardium. The ______ layer
of the serous pericardium attaches to large vessels that enter/exit the heart and covers the outer surface
of the heart muscle (i.e. the ______) - (correct Answer) - Parietal layer, visceral layer, epicardium
Between the visceral and parietal layers is a space (the pericardial space) that normally contains about
_____ mL of serous (pale yellow and transparent) fluid. This fluid acts as a lubricant, preventing friction
as the heart beats - (correct Answer) - 20 mL
If the pericardium becomes inflamed (_______), excess pericardial fluid can be quickly generated in
response to the inflammation. Can result from bacterial or viral infection, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors,
destruction of the heart muscle in a heart attack, among other causes - (correct Answer) - Pericarditis
, Heart surgery or trauma to the heart, such as a stab wound, can cause rapid buildup of blood in the
pericardial space. The buildup of excess blood or fluid in the pericardial space compresses the heart. This
can affect the heart's ability to ______ and _____ with blood between heartbeats - (correct Answer) -
Relax and fill
If the heart cannot adequately fill with blood, the amount of blood the ventricles can pump out to the
body (_____ ______) will be decreased. As a result, the amount of blood returning to the heart is also
decreased. These changes can result in _____ _____ - (correct Answer) - Cardiac output, cardiac
tamponade
The rapid buildup of as little as ____-____ mL of fluid or blood can be enough to result in signs and
symptoms of shock - (correct Answer) - 100-150 mL
_____ mL of fluid may build up over a longer period without any significant effect on the heart's ability
to fill. This is because the pericardium accomodates the increased fluid by stretching over time - (correct
Answer) - 1000 mL
______ is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the pericardial space and the excess fluid is
sucked out (aspirated) through the needle - (correct Answer) - Pericardiocentesis
The right and left ______ nerves, which innervate the diaphragm, pass through the fibrous pericardium
as they descend to the diaphragm. Because these nerves supply sensory fibers to the fibrous
pericardium, the parietal serous pericardium, and the mediastinal pleura, discomfort related to
conditions affecting the pericardium may be felt in the areas above the ______ or lateral _____ - (correct
Answer) - Phrenic, shoulders, neck
The walls of the heart are made up of 3 tissue layers: the _____, ______, and _____ - (correct Answer) -
Endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium
The heart's innermost layer, the ______, is made up of a thin, smooth layer of epithelium and connective
tissue and lines the heart's inner chambers, valves, chordae tendonae, and papillary muscles - (correct
Answer) - Endocardium
The terminal components of the heart's specialized conduction system can be found in the endocardium.
This layer is continuous with the innermost layer of the ______, ______, and ______ of the body,
creating a continuous, closed circulatory system - (correct Answer) - Arteries, veins, and capillaries
The ______ (middle layer) is a thick, muscular layer that consists of cardiac muscle fibers (cells)
responsible for the pumping action of the heart. Makes up about _____% of the total left ventricular
mass - (correct Answer) - Myocardium, 30%
The heart's outermost layer is called the ______. Continuous with the inner lining of the pericardium at
the heart's apex. Contains blood capillaries, lymph capillaries, nerve fibers, and fat - (correct Answer) -
Epicardium
The main _____ _____ lie on the epicardial surface of the heart. They feed this area first before entering
the myocardium and supplying the heart's inner layers with oxygenated blood - (correct Answer) -
Coronary arteries
______ is a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part or organ - (correct Answer) - Ischemia
