3.1.1. Physical Properties and Histology of the Circ. Flashcards
What do we call the specialized epithelium lining the interior of the heart, blood vessels, and the lymphatics?
The endothelium
Which ventricle in the heart contains more muscle and why?
The Left Ventricle (LV) contains more muscle because it pumps against higher pressures.
In what manner does the heart contract? (is it like preistalsis, or do the muscles line up to squeeze in a certain way)
What does this accomplish?
The hear contracts in a spiral manner (like wringing out a wet hand towel).
This helps the heart to increase the amount of blood moved with each pump.
What do we call the amount of blood actually ejected from the LV?
The ejection fraction (in %)
In general, are the atria more or less muscular than the ventricles?
Generally, they are less muscuar
What 3 layers of cardiac tissue are present in the heart?
Epicardium (outer most)
Myocardium (central, muscle)
Endocardium (innermost)
Do cardiac cells function as a syncytium?
If not, how do they pump synchronously?
They are not a syncytium.
Myocardium pumps as one unit because the cells are connected by gap junctions, allowing chemical and electrical stimuli to travel along a long line of cells as if it were one large cell.
Valves in our vasculature contain what material instead of muscle?
Dense Connective Tissue (Dense CT)
What are the functions of the SA (sinoatrial) and AV (atrioventricular) nodes?
These are the sites of pacemaker cells in the heart, which tell myocytes when to contract.
Both nodes have a “preset” pace (AV is actually slower than SA)
The SA node sets the basal rhythm
AV node functions to slow the electrical stimulus from the SA node so that the atria and ventricles do not pump at the same time.
How is the electrical stimulus sent throughout the heart?
OR
What structures does it go through in what order?
(ECG correlate, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYZ4daFwMa8)
Starts at SA node
Travels across the atria (P wave)
Hits the AV node and slows (P-R segment)
Moves from AV to the bundle of His in the interventricular septum (Q)
Travels up Purkinje fibers (R and S)
Ventricles repolarize (T wave)
What three layers are vessels comprised of in the circulatory system?
Tunica (L. tunic = layer):
Intima (luminal)
Media(middle)
Externa/Adventitia (outside of vessel)
The tunica intima of vessels is lined by what cell type?
Endothelium
Properties of endothelium change based upon which vessel you are in
What does the tunica media typically contain?
Is the tunica media larger in arteries or veins?
Smooth Muscle (especially in arteries)
This layer is thicker in arteries than in veins because of the extra smooth muscle.
What does the tunica adventitia contain?
What is special about the tunica adventitia of the Vena Cava?
Typically connective tissue, along with the nervi vasorum and the vasa vasorum
The tunica adventitia of the Vena Cava contains smooth muscle (it’s the only vessel with smooth muscle in the adventitia)
Source: Mr. Jones (and meee)
Histologically, what are two differences between veins and arteries?
Arteries have a thicker wall than veins
Veins will typically appear flattened, whereas arteries will keep their rounded appearance
What are two histological differences between arteries and veins in the tunica intima?
The endothelium will appear wavy in arteries due to muscle constriction, where as the vein endothelia will appear smooth
You may find an internal elastic membrane in arteries, but this is absent in veins