Surface anatomy of heart : with points for drawing on living body

 

Heart:

 

1Apex of the   Heart

It is situated in the left 5^th intercostal space just medial to midclavicalar   line.

Related questions:  How it is formed?

Ans: It is formed by only left ventricle of the heart.

2.     Right   border of the Heart

1^st point: On   the upper border   of the right 3^rd costal cartilage about 2.5 cm from the median   plane.

2^nd point: on   the right 6^th costal cartilage about 2.5 cm from the median plane

Join these two points by a convex line towards the right.

SN: (The maximum convexity of which lies at a distance of 3.25am from the median plane in the 4^th intercostal space.)

Related questions:

How it is formed?  Ans: it is formed by right atrium

3. Left Border of Heart

1) 1^st    Point – On the lower border of the left 2^nd costal cartilage about 2.5 cm from the median plane.

2) 2^nd   point- At the apex beat left 5^th intercostal space just medial to mid-clavicular line Join   these two points by line with convexity directed upwards and to the left.

Related questions:

How it is formed? Ans: it is formed by left ventricle of the heart

4. Lower border of the Heart

1^st point: on   the right 6th costal cartilage about 2.5 cm from the median plane

2^nd   point-At the apex beat left 5^th intercostal space just medial to mid-clavicular line

Join these two points with slight notch to the right of the apex of the heart.

Inferior border passes through the xiphisternal junction

 Related questions: How it is formed? Ans: it is formed by mostly by right ventricle and partly by left ventricle

5. Upper border of the Heart

1^st point: On   the upper border   of the right 3^rd costal cartilage about 2.5 cm from the median   plane.

2^nd point: On the lower border of the left 2^nd costal cartilage about 2.5 cm from the median plane.

Join these points.

Related questions: How it is formed? Ans: 1/3 of right atrium and 2/3 of left atrium are formed this border

6. Arch of the Aorta

1) 1^st point –On the right end of the   sternal angle.

2) 2^nd point –On the   centre of the manubrium   sterni

3)3^rd point- sternal end of left 2^nd costal cartilage 

Join the points by a curved line which represents the outer border of the arch of aorta; then the inner   border is drawn   below  &  paralled to it about 2.5 cm apart  .

Importance points :  It is the continuation of ascending aorta and It is continued as descending thoracic aorta

Related questions : What are the branches of arch of aorta?

1.       brachiocephalic artery/ trunk : right common carotid and right subclavian artery

2.       left common carotid artery

3.       left subclavian artery

What is the type of these arteries?  Ans : elastic artery.

Why they known as elastic artery? They contain large numbers of elastic lamina within the tunica media.