Details
Heart with aorta, pulmonary trunk and coronary arteries
In this specimen we can see the great blood vessels going in and out of the heart. The chambers of the heart can also be seen such as right atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle. We can also see the pulmonary trunk and aorta arising from the right and left ventricles respectively. The anterior or sternocostal surface of the heart is formed mainly by the Right atrium, Right ventricle and Left ventricle. The right border is formed by right atrium. Left border of the heart is formed mainly by left ventricle. We can also see the branches of Arch of aorta-i.e., left subclavian, left common carotid arteries and the brachiocephalic trunk. The Ligamentum arteriosum which lies between the pulmonary trunk and aorta is visualized here and is a remnant of ductus arteriosus of fetal life. We can also see the pulmonary veins that collects the blood from lungs and drain it into left atrium. The blood vessels supplying the heart such as the right coronary artery in the atrioventricular groove and the left anterior descending artery (LADA) in the anterior interventricular groove are also seen. The great cardiac vein
is also seen accompanying the left anterior descending artery (LADA).
Right atrium:
Right atrium is the receiving chamber of the heart which receive the blood (deoxygenated) from the whole body by superior and inferior vena cavae. Extension of the right atrium towards the left is called the right auricle whose margins are notched. The right atrium opens into the right ventricle.
Right ventricle:
The right ventricle receives the blood from the right atrium through the tricuspid orifice and send that blood to lungs for oxygenation through the pulmonary trunk.
Left ventricle:
The left ventricle receives the blood from the left atrium through the bicuspid orifice and sends that blood to whole of the body through aorta.
Pulmonary trunk:
The pulmonary trunk is a blood vessel that arises from the right ventricle of the heart. It extends upward, and divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries that convey the deoxygenated blood to the lungs
Aorta:
The aorta is the main and largest artery of the human body. It originates from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through the systemic circulation. It presents the following parts: ascending aorta, arch of aorta, descending (thoracic) aorta and abdominal aorta.
Arch of aorta:
The arch of aorta is the part of the aorta that distributes blood to the head and neck and upper extremities of the body via the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid, and the left subclavian arteries.
Subclavian artery:
It is a direct branch of the arch of aorta on the left side and arises from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right side. It and mainly supplies the upper limbs (as it continues as the axillary artery). It also provides some branches supplying the head and thorax
Common carotid artery:
It is a direct branch of the arch of aorta on the left side and arises from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right side. The right and left common carotid arteries supply the head and neck with oxygenated blood. The common carotid artery divides in the neck at the level of the upper border of thyroid cartilage to form the external (supplies the outer regions of head and neck) and internal carotid arteries (supplies the brain)
Brachiocephalic trunk:
The brachiocephalic trunk is a branch of the arch of aorta arising from its right side. It is a common trunk that further divides into right common carotid and right subclavian arteries respectively.
Ligamentum arteriosum:
The ligamentum arteriosum is a small fibrous band, located between the proximal part of the left pulmonary artery and the undersurface of the junction between the arch of aorta and descending aorta. It is an embryological remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosum that connects the left pulmonary artery with the arch of aorta. The ligamentum arteriosum is closely related to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the left vagus nerve
Right coronary artery:
The right coronary artery (RCA) is one of two main coronary vessels that supply the myocardium (the other being the left coronary artery). It arises from the anterior aortic sinus of the ascending aorta and runs in the coronary sulcus (right atrioventricular groove).
Left anterior descending artery (LADA):
It is a branch of the left coronary artery and is also called the anterior interventricular artery. It runs in the anterior interventricular groove accompanied by the great cardiac vein. It is the artery most commonly involved in blockage resulting in myocardial infarction.
Great Cardiac Vein:
It is a largest tributary of the coronary sinus. It first accompanies the anterior interventricular artery and then the left coronary artery to enter the left end of the coronary sinus.
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