3D CONTENT
3D HEART ANATOMY

CARDIAC SEPTUM

Author: Dr. Bogdan Leahu
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Cardiac septum anatomy 360-degree interactive viewer showing interatrial septum, interventricular septum, and atrioventricular septum dividing heart chambers
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Cardiac Septum - Overview, Preview from the app.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CARDIAC SEPTUM

  • Muscular walls dividing heart chambers

Types of Septa

  • Interatrial septum
  • Interventricular septum
  • Atrioventricular septum

Functions

  • Maintain unidirectional blood flow
  • Prevent mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

INTERATRIAL SEPTUM

Interatrial septum 360-degree viewer showing thin wall between right and left atria with fossa ovalis and limbus fossae ovalis
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Interatrial Septum, Preview from the app.

  • Thin delicate wall between right and left atria
  • Prevents mixing of atrial blood
  • Maintains efficient circulation

Fossa Ovalis

  • Depression within the septum
  • Located in right atrium
  • Remnant of foramen ovale
  • Foramen ovale allowed fetal blood to bypass lungs
  • Normally closes after birth

Limbus Fossae Ovalis

  • Prominent ridge surrounding fossa ovalis
  • Borders the oval fossa
  • More pronounced superiorly
  • More pronounced along edges

ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTUM

Atrioventricular septum 360-degree viewer showing portion of septum between atria and ventricles with offset valve attachment
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Atrioventricular Septum, Preview from the app.

  • Portion of septum between atria and ventricles
  • Results from offset attachment of atrioventricular valves:
    • Tricuspid valve
    • Mitral valve
  • Location:
    • Posterior to tricuspid valve hinge
  • Functions:
    • Maintains structural separation between upper and lower chambers
    • Supports proper electrical conduction between chambers

INTERVENTRICULAR SEPTUM

Interventricular septum 360-degree viewer showing robust muscular wall dividing left and right ventricles with muscular and membranous parts
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Interventricular Septum, Preview from the app.

  • Robust muscular wall dividing left and right ventricles
  • Separates oxygen-rich blood in left ventricle from oxygen-poor blood in right ventricle
  • Ensures efficient unidirectional blood flow
  • Composed of two parts:
    • Muscular part
    • Membranous part

Muscular Part

  • Comprises majority of septum
  • Thick structure
  • Provides strength to withstand high ventricular pressures

Membranous Part

  • Thinner section near atrioventricular valves
  • Composed primarily of fibrous tissue
  • Common site for ventricular septal defects
  • Congenital defects can cause abnormal interventricular blood flow
  • May require surgical correction

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Drake RL, Vogl AW, Mitchell AWM. Gray's Anatomy for Students. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020. Chapter 3: Thorax.

2. Standring S, editor. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2021. p. 996-1046.

3. Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2018. p. 127-162.

QUICK FACTS: CARDIAC SEPTUM

Key questions answered about this anatomy topic

Q: What are the three types of cardiac septa?

Answer: Interatrial, interventricular, and atrioventricular septum. The heart contains three septa: the interatrial septum (between atria), interventricular septum (between ventricles), and atrioventricular septum (between atria and ventricles).

Q: What is the primary function of the cardiac septa?

Answer: To maintain unidirectional blood flow and prevent mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. The cardiac septa maintain unidirectional blood flow and prevent mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, ensuring efficient circulation.

Q: What is the fossa ovalis?

Answer: A depression in the interatrial septum that is a remnant of the foramen ovale. The fossa ovalis is a depression within the interatrial septum located in the right atrium. It is the remnant of the foramen ovale, which allowed fetal blood to bypass the lungs.

Q: What is the function of the foramen ovale in fetal circulation?

Answer: To allow fetal blood to bypass the lungs. The foramen ovale allowed fetal blood to bypass the lungs since the fetus receives oxygenated blood from the placenta. It normally closes after birth to form the fossa ovalis.

Q: What is the limbus fossae ovalis?

Answer: A prominent ridge surrounding the fossa ovalis. The limbus fossae ovalis is a prominent ridge surrounding the fossa ovalis, more pronounced superiorly and along its edges.

Want to test yourself? Try the interactive quiz above!

⋮⋮ Cardiac Septum Quiz
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