1.1 - The cardiovascular system Flashcards
What are the 2 parts of the heart divided by?
A muscular wall called the septum
What are the two chambers in one part of the heart called?
Atrium and Ventricle
Which are bigger atria or ventricles and why?
Ventricles are bigger than atria because the atria only push blood down into the ventricles.
Describe the structure of atria and why they are like this.
They have thinner walls than the ventricles as pushing blood into the ventricles requires little force.
Describe the structure of ventricles and why they are like this.
Thick muscular walls as they need to contract with great force to push blood out of the heart.
Which side of the heart is thicker/larger and why?
The left side is thicker/larger because it needs to pump blood all around the body whereas the right side only pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs which are in close proximity to the heart.
Where does the vena cava take blood? Is it oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Deoxygenated blood back to the right atrium.
Where does the pulmonary vein take blood? Is it oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Oxygenated blood to the left atrium.
Where does the pulmonary artery take blood to and from? Is it oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Leaves right ventricle with deoxygenated blood to go to the lungs.
Where does the aorta take blood to and from? Is it oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Leaves left ventricle with oxygenated blood leading to the body.
What is the function of valves?
Ensure blood only flows in one direction thus preventing back flow. They open to allow blood to pass through before closing again to prevent back flow.
Where are the tricuspid, bicuspid and semi-lunar valves located?
Tricuspid valve: between the right atrium and right ventricle.
Bicuspid valve: between the left atrium and left ventricle.
Semi-lunar valves: between the right and left ventricles and between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.
What is the cardiac conduction system?
It is a group of specialised cells located in the wall of the heart which send electrical impulses to the cardiac muscle, causing it to contract.
When the heart beats, what needs to happen?
The blood needs to flow through the heart in a controlled manner, in through the atria an out through the ventricles.
What is the heart muscle described as being and why?
Myogenic as the beat starts in the heart muscle itself with an electrical signal in the sinoatrial node (SAN)
Where does the heart impulse travel after being started in the sinoatrial node?
It spreads through the heart in what is often described as a wave of excitation (similar to a Mexican wave). From the SAN the electrical impulse spreads through the walls of the atria, causing them to contract and forcing blood into the ventricles. It then passes through the atrioventricular node (AVN) found in the atrioventricular septum. The impulse then passes down through some specialised fibres which form the bundles of His.
What does the AVN do and what does this allow to happen?
Delays the transmission of the cardiac impulse for approximately 0.1 seconds to enable the atria to fully contract before ventricular systole begins.
Where is the bundle of His located?
It is located in the septum separating the two ventricles. It then branches out into two bundle branches and then moves into smaller bundles called purkinje fibres which spread throughout the ventricles causing them to contract.
Define myogenic.
The capacity of the heart to generate its own impulses.
What is the sinoatrial node (SAN or SA node)?
A small mass of cardiac muscle found in the wall of the right atrium that generates the heartbeat. It is more commonly known as the pacemaker.
What is systole?
When the heart contracts.
What is the bundle of His?
A collection of heart muscle cells that transmit electrical impulses from the AVN via the bundle branches to the ventricles.
What are the purkinje fibres?
Muscle fibres that conduct impulses in the walls of the ventricles.
How do you remember the conduction system in 6 main points?
Sally Always Aims Balls Past Vicky
SAN Atrial systole AVN Bundle of His Purkinje fibres Ventricular systole