3. Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are the 4 components of blood?
Blood plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
What is blood plasma?
- Blood plasma is a yellow liquid
- it carries all your blood cells and some other substances.
- they can carry waste carbon dioxide
What are red blood cells?
- The most frequent cell in your body are red blood cells.
- they carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
- red pigment from haemoglobin which binds to the oxygen
What are white blood cells?
- less frequent but bigger than red blood cells.
- they form part of the bodies immune system and defence against harmful microorganisms
- some form antibodies and some form antitoxins.
- some engulf and digest the bacteria
What are the platelets?
- Platelets are small fragments of cells.
- build up around a wound
What are the features of arteries?
- Arteries carry blood away from the heart
- Thick walls because pressure is high
- thick layer of muscles and elastic fibres
- small lumen
- they stretch as blood flows through them.
What are the features of veins?
- veins have a large lumen
- thin walls as there is lower pressure
- often have valves
- veins carry blood into the heart
What are the features of capillaries?
- walls are single cell thick
- connect arteries to veins
- very narrow lumen
If you have coronary heart disease, then what happens to your coronary arteries and why?
A build up of plaque from lipids build up in the coronary artery which is caused by damaged arteries.
What effect does a build up of lipids in your artery have on your blood flow?
The build up of lipids causes the lumen of the artery to become narrower and therefor restricts the flow of blood. This leads to the artery becoming inflamed as it is the bodies response. This increases the chance of a heart attack.
What is a stent?
A stent is a metal cage tube that can be opened. It is used to open the arteries when there is a build up of plaque. You put a small ballon inside the stent and push it to where there is a build up. You inflate the ballon which opens the stent and keeps it in that position and keeps the wall of the artery opened. You remove the ballon and the blood will be able to pass easily.
What is a mechanical heart valve?
A mechanical heart valve is usually made from a lightweight, durable and strong material like titanium. They last about 20 to 30 years. Because of the material of the valve it is more likely that blood clots will form. This means the patient needs to take blood thinning drugs everyday for the rest of their lives.
What is a biological valve?
A biological valve is usually an animals heart (most commonly pig). Lasts about 10 to 20 years. The risk of blood clotting is very low so no blood thinning drugs need to be taken. Biological valves are more expensive.
What is a natural pacemaker?
The natural pacemaker is a group of cells in the right atrium which controls the bpm. The natural bpm is 70.
What is an artificial pacemaker?
An artificial pacemaker is an electrical device implemented into the chest which corrects the beats your heart makes. It is attached to the heart with two wires.