Textbook Question
Define cardiac cycle, and follow the events of one cycle.
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Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System: The Heart
Marieb, Hoehn11th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874034
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 The Human Body: An Orientation24
- Ch. 2 Chemistry Comes Alive25
- Ch. 3 Cells: The Living Units21
- Ch. 4 Tissue: The Living Fabric20
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System11
- Ch. 6 Bones and Skeletal Tissues19
- Ch. 7 The Skeleton14
- Ch. 8 Joints7
- Ch. 9 Muscles and Muscle Tissue26
- Ch. 10 The Muscular System26
- Ch. 11 Fundamentals of the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue19
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System26
- Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex Activity32
- Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System19
- Ch. 15 The Special Senses26
- Ch. 16 The Endocrine System23
- Ch. 17 Blood25
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System: The Heart24
- Ch. 19 The Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels27
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs and Tissues14
- Ch. 21 The Immune System: Innate and Adaptive Body Defenses27
- Ch. 22 The Respiratory System21
- Ch. 23 The Digestive System31
- Ch. 24 Nutrition, Metabolism, and Energy Balance26
- Ch. 25 The Urinary System26
- Ch. 26 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance24
- Ch. 27 The Reproductive System24
- Ch. 28 Pregnancy and Human Development25
- Ch. 29 Heredity11
Marieb, Hoehn11th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874034Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 18, Problem 9
Describe the location and position of the heart in the body.
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Begin by identifying the general region of the body where the heart is located, which is within the thoracic cavity.
Explain that the heart is situated in the mediastinum, the central compartment of the thoracic cavity, between the lungs.
Describe the position of the heart as being slightly left of the midline of the body, with its apex pointing downward and to the left.
Mention that the heart lies posterior to the sternum and anterior to the vertebral column, resting on the diaphragm.
Clarify that the base of the heart is directed upward, toward the right shoulder, while the apex points downward toward the left hip.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Anatomical Position of the Heart
The heart is located in the thoracic cavity, specifically in the mediastinum, between the lungs. It lies slightly to the left of the midline, behind the sternum, and above the diaphragm, making it central to the circulatory system.
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Anatomical Position
Orientation and Chambers of the Heart
The heart is oriented with its base directed upward and backward, and its apex pointing downward and to the left. It consists of four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles below, which influence its position within the chest.
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Surrounding Structures and Protective Layers
The heart is enclosed by the pericardium, a protective sac, and is surrounded by the lungs laterally, the diaphragm inferiorly, and the sternum anteriorly. These structures help define its position and protect it within the thorax.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Freshly oxygenated blood is first received by the:
a. Right atrium
b. Left atrium
c. Right ventricle
d. Left ventricle
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Textbook Question
The refractory period of cardiac muscle is much longer than that of skeletal muscle. Why is this a desirable functional property?
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Textbook Question
In the heart, which of the following apply?
(1) Action potentials are conducted from cell to cell across the myocardium via gap junctions
(2) The SA node sets the pace for the heart as a whole
(3) Spontaneous depolarization of cardiac cells can occur in the absence of nerve stimulation
(4) Cardiac muscle can continue to contract for long periods in the absence of oxygen
a. All of the above
b. 1, 3, 4
c. 1, 2, 3
d. 2, 3
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Textbook Question
Draw a normal ECG pattern. Label and explain the significance of its deflection waves.
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Textbook Question
The chordae tendineae:
a. The atrioventricular valves
b. Prevent the AV valve flaps from everting
c. Contract the papillary muscles
d. Open the semilunar valves
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