Histology wall layering
The wall layers are the same in all four heart interiors:
- The innermost layer is the endocardium, consisting of a single-layer epithelium, which is supported by the connective tissue lamina propria.
- The muscle layer (myocardium) is connected to the outside of this.
- The outermost layer is the epicardium.
Blood supply
The heart is supplied with blood via the coronary arteries (coronary vessels, Vasa coronaria). These are formed by the two main vessels, the left and right coronary arteries (arteria coronaria sinistra and dextra) and their numerous branches. These branches emerge from the aorta immediately after it exits the heart. The right ventricle is mainly supplied by branches of the right coronary artery, but a small part of the supply is also provided by the left coronary artery.
Clinical aspects
Coronary artery disease (CHD) comprises clinical pictures that result from a narrowing of sections of the coronary arteries. The consequence is a reduced blood supply to the heart. A typical symptom is angina pectoris (congestive heart failure).
The maximum variant of coronary artery disease is a heart attack with complete occlusion of a section of a coronary vessel. The cause of CHD is atherosclerotic changes in the vessels with deposits of plaques on the vessel walls.If such a plaque ruptures (tears) and completely seals the vessel lumen with its contents, this leads to a heart attack. An insufficiency of the heart means a muscle weakness due to which the pumping capacity of the heart is no longer sufficient to supply the body with sufficient oxygen.
As a result, more and more blood accumulates in front of the affected heart section. In right heart failure, this backlog is mainly noticeable in the form of peripheral edema (accumulation of water), i.e. edema in the legs. Another symptom of heart failure is – among others – a decrease in physical performance. Causes can be, for example:
- Congenital valve defects,
- But also be an expired heart attack.
