Anatomy of the Heart and Coronary Circulation

Learn the comprehensive anatomy of the heart and coronary circulation through this detailed 52-minute educational lecture that combines digital presentations with professional anatomical illustrations and real cadaveric imaging. Begin by exploring the external and internal structure of the heart, including the fibrous and serous pericardium, pericardial cavity, and major surface landmarks, then identify the four chambers and their key external features including the right atrium with its auricle, right ventricle with anterior dominance, left atrium receiving pulmonary veins, and left ventricle forming the apex. Examine blood flow through the chambers and valves, focusing on the tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral, and aortic valves along with their supporting structures including chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. Study the interatrial and interventricular septa with emphasis on clinically relevant features such as the fossa ovalis and membranous septum as sites for congenital defects and conduction system vulnerability. Trace the heart's electrical conduction system from the SA node through the AV node, bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers, connecting this anatomy to clinical correlations including AV nodal ischemia and heart block patterns. Map the coronary circulation in detail, covering the right and left coronary arteries with their major branches including the right marginal artery, posterior descending artery, left anterior descending artery, and circumflex artery, while understanding coronary dominance patterns and their clinical significance during vessel occlusion. Review venous drainage through the coronary sinus and its tributaries, explore pericardial and cardiac innervation including sympathetic and parasympathetic contributions, and understand visceral pain referral patterns that explain typical anginal presentations. Conclude with three-dimensional visualization using Anatomage digital cadaveric images to reinforce spatial relationships between the heart, lungs, mediastinum, and diaphragm.