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Cardiac Anatomy Poster

The anatomy the RCIS exam keeps testing — chambers and valves, coronary territories and dominance, and the conduction pathway — as one labeled, printable reference.

🩺 Reviewed by our Editorial Team⏱ 2 min read🗓 Updated July 2026
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<a href="https://rcispracticetest.com/cheat-sheets/cardiac-anatomy-poster.html">Cardiac Anatomy Poster — RCIS Practice Test</a>

Educational use only — not medical advice. Values are standard adult references; always confirm against current guidelines and your institution’s protocols.

Chambers, valves & blood flow

Labeled diagram of the human heart chambers and valves
Image: Wapcaplet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
StructureFunction
Right atrium (RA)Receives systemic venous blood (SVC, IVC, coronary sinus)
Tricuspid valveRA → RV
Right ventricle (RV)Pumps to the lungs
Pulmonic valveRV → pulmonary artery
Left atrium (LA)Receives oxygenated blood from 4 pulmonary veins
Mitral (bicuspid) valveLA → LV
Left ventricle (LV)Pumps to the body (highest pressure)
Aortic valveLV → aorta
Diagram of blood flow through the heart with normal pressures
Blood-flow path with normal chamber pressures.

Coronary arteries & territories

Diagram of the coronary artery anatomy
Image: Patrick J. Lynch et al., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
ArterySupplies
Left main (LM)Divides into the LAD and LCx
Left anterior descending (LAD)Anterior wall, anterior ⅔ of the septum, apex
Left circumflex (LCx)Lateral wall (obtuse marginal branches)
Right coronary artery (RCA)Inferior wall, SA node (~60%), AV node; gives the PDA in right dominance
Dominance is defined by which artery gives the posterior descending artery (PDA): right-dominant (PDA from RCA) in ~85%, left-dominant (PDA from LCx) in ~8%, and co-dominant in ~7%.

The conduction system

Diagram of the cardiac conduction system
Image: OpenStax, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The normal impulse pathway:

StepStructure
1SA node (pacemaker, ~60–100/min) — high right atrium
2Internodal atrial pathways → atrial contraction
3AV node — the normal delay allows the atrial kick
4Bundle of His — the only normal atrio-ventricular connection
5Right & left bundle branches → Purkinje fibers → ventricular contraction

Study these in depth with the anatomy question bank, the coronary anatomy guide, and the conduction system guide.

Lock in cardiac anatomy

Free anatomy questions with worked explanations.

Practise Anatomy →

Frequently asked questions

Which coronary artery supplies the inferior wall?

In most people the right coronary artery supplies the inferior wall (and the SA and AV nodes), which is why inferior MIs are often RCA occlusions.

What is coronary dominance?

Dominance describes which artery gives rise to the posterior descending artery: right-dominant (RCA) in about 85% of people, left-dominant (circumflex) in about 8%, and co-dominant in about 7%.

What is the normal cardiac conduction pathway?

SA node → atrial pathways → AV node (delay) → bundle of His → right and left bundle branches → Purkinje fibers → ventricles.

Can I print this cardiac anatomy poster?

Yes — use the 'Print / Save as PDF' button at the top.

Sources & further reading

External links are provided for reference; always confirm current details with the official source.

Keep going

Coronary anatomy guideConduction systemHemodynamic valuesAnatomy study guideAnatomy practice
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RCIS Practice Test Editorial Team

Our content is written and reviewed by contributors with cardiovascular and allied-health backgrounds, grounded in standard references and the official CCI exam domains. Educational use only — not medical advice. See our editorial policy.