1.1 cardiovascular system Flashcards
Describe the cardiac conduction system
- heart is myogenic it generates its own impulse
- impulse begins in the SAN
- impulse spreads through the heart in a wave of excitation
- from the SAN the electrical impulse spreads through the walls of the atria, causing them to contract
- impulse passes through the AVN, the AVN delays the transmission for 0.1 seconds (so atria fully contract)
- impulse passed down through the bundle of His (located in the septum) and spreads down the purkinje fibres that spread through the walls of the ventricles, causing them to contract
Define systole
when the heart contracts
Define myogenic
the capacity of the heart to generate its own impulses
Define diastole
when the heart relaxes and fills with blood
What is the sympathetic system?
a part of the autonomic nervous system that speeds up heart rate
What is the parasympathetic system?
a part of the autonomic nervous system that decreases heart rate
What is the medulla oblongata?
the most important part of the brain as it regulates processes that keeps us alive e.g. breathing and heart rate
What are chemoreceptors?
tiny structures in the carotid arteries and aortic arch that detect changes in blood acidity caused by and increase or decrease in carbon dioxide concentration
Where are chemoreceptors found?
carotid arteries and aortic arch
What happens if there is an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the blood?
the chemoreceptors will detect an increase in blood acidity and will stimulate the sympathetic nervous system which will increase heart rate
What are baroreceptors?
special sensors in tissues in the aortic arch, carotid sinus, heart and pulmonary vessels that respond to changes in blood pressure to either increase or decrease heart rate
How do baroreceptors work?
- nerve endings that respond to stretching of the arterial wall caused by changes in blood pressure
- establish a set point for blood pressure
What happens if there is an increase in blood pressure?
baroreceptors detect the decrease in blood pressure above a set point results in a decrease of heart rate through parasympathetic system
What happens if there is a decrease in blood pressure?
decrease in stretch in the stretch of the baroreceptors and results in an increase in heart rate
What are proprioceptors?
sensory nerve endings in the muscles, tendons and joints that detect changes in muscle movement
What happens to the baroreceptor blood pressure set point before exercise?
increases so enough oxygen is still delivered to the working muscles
What happens if there is an increase in muscle movement?
proprioceptors detect increase in muscle movement, they send an impulse to the medulla, which sends an impulse through the sympathetic nervous system to the SAN to increase heart rate
What’s adrenaline?
a stress hormone that is released by the sympathetic nerves and cardiac nerve during exercise which causes an increase in HR
What node does adrenaline stiumlate?
sinoatrial node
How does adrenaline increase cardiac output?
stimulates SAN which results in an increase in the speed and force of contraction if the heart
What is stroke volume?
the volume of the blood pumped out by the heart ventricles in each contraction
What 3 factors does stroke volume depend on?
- venous return: the volume of blood returning to the heart in the veins (increased venous return=increased stroke volume)
- contractility of the cardiac tissue: the greater contractility, the greater the force of contraction= increase in stroke volume
- elasticity of the cardiac fibres: greater stretch, the greater force of contraction and ejection fraction
Define the ejection fraction
the percentage of blood pumped out by the left ventricle per beat
What is starling’s law?
increased venous return —> greater diastolic filling of heart —> cardiac muscle stretched —> more force of contraction —> increased ejection fraction
How do you determine ejection fraction?
stroke volume/end diastolic volume (volume of blood in ventricles at rest
What is bradycardia?
a decrease in resting heart rate to below 60bpm
What is cardiac output?
the volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles per minute
Define cardiac hypertrophy
the thickening of the muscular wall of the heart so it becomes bigger and stronger; also can mean a larger ventricular cavity
How do you determine cardiac output?
stroke volume x heart rate
What is an average stroke volume?
70ml
What is an average heart rate?
72bpm
How do you determine max heart rate?
220- age
Define anticipatory rise
an increase in heart rate prior to exercise, due to the release of adrenaline