Cardiovascular nursing resources: Difference between revisions
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==<center><font size='5'>'''Coronary Arteries: The Basics'''</font></center>== | ==<center><font size='5'>'''Coronary Arteries: The Basics'''</font></center>== | ||
[[Image:Gray492.png|center|thumb|300px|Coronary arteries]] | |||
The coronary arteries are small arteries that supply the [[myocardium]], or heart muscle, with oxygenated blood. The [[coronary arteries]] are usually located just above the aortic valve and are situated on the surface of the heart. The coronary arteries are filled when the [[left ventricle]] pushes blood out through the aortic valve to the body. There are three main coronary arteries of the heart, all which have one or more branches. The left main coronary artery is the ‘tree trunk’ to two of the main arteries: The circumflex (CX), and the [[left anterior descending]] (LAD). Coming off of the aorta by itself, is the third major artery, the [[right coronary artery]] (RCA). | The coronary arteries are small arteries that supply the [[myocardium]], or heart muscle, with oxygenated blood. The [[coronary arteries]] are usually located just above the aortic valve and are situated on the surface of the heart. The coronary arteries are filled when the [[left ventricle]] pushes blood out through the aortic valve to the body. There are three main coronary arteries of the heart, all which have one or more branches. The left main coronary artery is the ‘tree trunk’ to two of the main arteries: The circumflex (CX), and the [[left anterior descending]] (LAD). Coming off of the aorta by itself, is the third major artery, the [[right coronary artery]] (RCA). | ||
Revision as of 18:59, 5 April 2009
Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Waldeck, BSN, RN
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Cardiac Anatomy Overview
The heart is one of the most fascinating and important organs in the body. The heart is a muscular organ which functions by squeezing (contracting) to pump oxygenated blood to the other vital organs of the body via the arteries. As shown in the diagram of the heart above, the heart consists of four chambers, two atria, and two ventricles, and four primary blood vessels, the pulmonary vein and artery, the aorta, and the vena cava. Likewise, the heart has four valves that help control the blood flow between the atria, ventricles, veins and arteries. These valves are the aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid, and mitral valves.
The Blood Flow
Starting in the right atria, the deoxygenated blood will travel through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. From there it will proceed through the pulmonary valve, into the pulmonary artery to enter the lungs. Once there, the lungs will take the carbon dioxide out of the blood and exchange it for oxygen. Once this diffusion process is completed, the blood will continue through the pulmonary vein into the left atria. The left atria will send the blood through the mitral, or bicuspid, valve, into the left ventricle. With the force of the thick walls of the ventricle, the ventricle will contract pushing the blood through the aortic valve into the aorta from which it is then redistribute to the rest of the body. Once the journey is complete, the blood will travel back to the heart, via the veins, up through the inferior vena cava, into the superior vena cava and back to the right atria to start the process again.
Coronary Arteries: The Basics
The coronary arteries are small arteries that supply the myocardium, or heart muscle, with oxygenated blood. The coronary arteries are usually located just above the aortic valve and are situated on the surface of the heart. The coronary arteries are filled when the left ventricle pushes blood out through the aortic valve to the body. There are three main coronary arteries of the heart, all which have one or more branches. The left main coronary artery is the ‘tree trunk’ to two of the main arteries: The circumflex (CX), and the left anterior descending (LAD). Coming off of the aorta by itself, is the third major artery, the right coronary artery (RCA).