Surgical Technology: Anatomy of the Heart Vocabulary

epicardium

serous membrane on the surface of the myocardium

myocardium

heart muscle; forms the walls of the four chambers

endocardium

endothelium that lines the chambers and covers the valves; smooth to prevent abnormal clotting

right atrium (RA)

receives deoxygenated blood from the body by way of the superior and inferior caval veins

tricuspid valve

right AV valve; prevents backflow of blood from the RV to the RA when the RV contracts

right ventricle (RV)

pumps blood to the lungs by way of the pulmonary artery

pulmonary semilunar valve

prevents backflow of blood from the pulmonary artery to the RV when the RV relaxes

left atrium (LA)

receives oxygenated blood from the lungs by way of the four pulmonary veins

mitral valve

left AV valve; prevents backflow of blood from the LV to the LA when the LV contracts.

left ventricle (LV)

pumps blood to the body by way of the aorta

aortic semilunar valve

prevents backflow of blood from the aorta to the LV when the LV relaxes

papillary muscles and chordae tendineae

in both the RV and LV; prevent inversion of the AV valves when the ventricles contract.