BIO 3342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 40: Posterior Interventricular Artery, Sliding Filament Theory, Posterior Interventricular Sulcus
Document Summary
Know what coronary circulation is and why it is important. Describe the location of the heart and describe the general function. The heart is a cone-shaped organ that is estimated to be the size of a human fist. The heart is located within the mediastinum of the thorax. It has a lung on each lateral side, is posteriorly flanked by the vertebral column, and is anteriorly protected by the sternum. The heart is the cardiovascular system"s propulsive force. As the heart contracts, it forces blood into a closed system of large and small blood vessels within which the blood is confined and circulated. Name and describe the three layers that make up the heart. The walls of the heart are composed of three layers, the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The epicardium is the outer layer and is also referred to as the visceral pericardium. The myocardium is the middle layer and is also the thickest layer.
