Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
7 cards from real CCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology flashcards as text
Which valve prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle?
Answer: Aortic semilunar valve
The aortic semilunar valve closes during diastole to prevent regurgitation of blood from the aorta back into the left ventricle.
The chordae tendineae attach the AV valve leaflets to which cardiac structure?
Answer: Papillary muscles
Chordae tendineae are fibrous cords that connect the AV valve leaflets to the papillary muscles, preventing valve prolapse during systole.
Which coronary artery typically supplies the sinoatrial (SA) node in most individuals?
Answer: Right coronary artery
In approximately 60% of individuals, the SA nodal artery arises from the right coronary artery (RCA).
What is the approximate normal cardiac output at rest in a healthy adult?
Answer: 5–6 L/min
Normal resting cardiac output is approximately 5–6 liters per minute, calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume.
Which layer of the heart wall contains the cardiac muscle cells responsible for contraction?
Answer: Myocardium
The myocardium is the thick middle layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) that generate the force of contraction.
The fossa ovalis is a remnant of which fetal cardiac structure?
Answer: Foramen ovale
The fossa ovalis is a depression in the interatrial septum that represents the closed foramen ovale, a fetal shunt that allowed blood to bypass the lungs.
Which property of cardiac muscle allows an action potential to spread from cell to cell throughout the myocardium?
Answer: Conductivity via gap junctions
Cardiac muscle cells are connected by gap junctions (intercalated discs) that allow ion flow and action potential propagation between cells, making the heart a functional syncytium.