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NREMT® Paramedic > EMT-P (2) Cardiology and Resuscitation > Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart > Flashcards

Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart Flashcards

Describe the structures and cellular interactions within the Heart

1
Q

Where is the heart located in the chest?

A

The heart sits above the diaphragm, posterior, and slightly left of the sternum.

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2
Q

Define:

Epicardium

A

A thin membrane surrounding the outside of the heart.

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3
Q

Define:

Myocardium

A

A muscular layer found between the endocardium and epicardium.

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4
Q

Define:

Endocardium

A

A thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart.

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5
Q

Define:

Pericardium

A

A tough, fibrous sac that envelops the entirety of the heart.

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6
Q

How does the heart receive oxygen?

A

Through the coronary arteries.

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7
Q

Where do the coronary arteries branch off?

A

aorta

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8
Q

Name the two main coronary arteries.

A
  • Left Main Coronary Artery
  • Right Coronary Artery
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9
Q

What are the two branches of the LMCA?

A
  • Left Anterior Descending
  • Left Circumflex
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10
Q

Fill in the blank.

The Right Coronary Artery travels between the ___ ___ and ___ ___.

A

right ventricle; right atrium

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11
Q

Define:

collateral circulation

A

These are additional blood vessels that form due to poor circulation.

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12
Q

Name the four chambers of the Heart.

A
  1. Right Atrium
  2. Right Ventricle
  3. Left Atrium
  4. Left Ventricle
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13
Q

Name the four valves of the Heart.

A
  1. Tricuspid
  2. Mitral
  3. Pulmonary
  4. Aortic
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14
Q

What valve separates the RA from the RV?

A

Tricuspid valve

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15
Q

What valve separates the LA from the LV?

A

Mitral valve

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16
Q

What are the anchors of each heart valve leaflet?

A

Chordae Tendineae

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17
Q

What valve feeds blood from the LV to the aorta?

A

Aortic valve

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18
Q

Define:

Diastole

A

It’s a period when the ventricles and atria are resting.

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19
Q

Define:

Systole

A

It’s a period of time when the ventricles or atriums are contracting.

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20
Q

True or false.

Both atriums typically contract at the same time.

A

True

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21
Q

What is the muscle that separates the left and right side of the heart?

A

Interventricular septum

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22
Q

Describe the step-by-step procedure of how blood flows through the heart.

A

The blood:

  1. Enters the RA from superior/inferior vena cava.
  2. Passes through the tricuspid valve into the RV.
  3. Pumped through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery, where blood flows through the lungs for oxygenation.
  4. Oxygenated blood returns via the pulmonary veins into the LA.
  5. Exits the LA through the mitral valve and empties into the LV.
  6. Goes through the aortic valve and enters the aorta, where it is distributed throughout the body.
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23
Q

Define:

preload

A

It refers to the initial stretching of the left side of the heart.

24
Q

Define:

afterload

A

It refers to the resistance of systemic arteries.

25
Q

What are the three structures of a blood vessel?

A
  • Tuncia Adventitia
  • Tunica Media
  • Tunica Intima
26
Q

Define:

blood pressure

A

The pressure exerted by blood on the arterial walls.

27
Q

What is the main purpose of capillaries?

A

It exchange gases and nutrients.

28
Q

Define:

cardiac output

A

The blood that is pumped out by either ventricle.

HR x SV = CO

29
Q

What is the normal cardiac output?

A

5-6 L/min

This value can vary depending on factors such as age, physical condition, and metabolic demands.

30
Q

Define:

stroke volume

A

The blood pumped out in a single contraction.

31
Q

What is the normal stroke volume?

A

60-100 ml

32
Q

Define:

Ejection Fraction

A

The percentage of blood that leaves the heart during each contraction.

Normal EF: 55-70%

33
Q

What is the Frank-Starling mechanism?

A

It limits how much the cardiac muscle can stretch.

34
Q

What is the Inotropic effect?

A

These are factors that affects the contractility of the heart.

35
Q

What is the Chronotropic effect?

A

These are factors that affects the heart rate.

36
Q

Fill in the blank.

Heart muscle conducts without the nervous system, which is called __________.

A

automaticity

37
Q

What is the dominant pacemaker of the heart?

A

SA node

38
Q

What is the normal path of electrical activity through the heart.

A
  1. SA node
  2. AV node
  3. Bundle of His
  4. Left and right bundle branch
  5. Purkinje fibers
39
Q

What is the gatekeeper of electrical impulses in the heart?

A

AV node

40
Q

Define:

depolarization

A

It is when the muscle fibers are stimulated to contract.

41
Q

What happens during absolute refractory period?

A

The heart is completely depolarized.

42
Q

What happens during relative refractory period?

A

The heart is partially repolarized and able to respond to stimulus.

43
Q

What is the intrinsic rate of SA node?

A

60-100 bpm

44
Q

What is the intrinsic rate of AV node?

A

40-60 bpm

45
Q

What is the intrinsic rate of Purkinje fibers?

A

20-40 bpm

46
Q

What indicates a P Wave in an ECG?

A

atrial depolarization

47
Q

What indicates a QRS complex in an ECG?

A

ventricular depolarization

48
Q

Define:

PR interval

A

The distance from the beginning of P wave to the beginning of R wave.

49
Q

What indicates a T wave in an ECG?

A

ventricular repolarization

50
Q

What is an ST Segment?

A

The period between ventricular depolarization and beginning of ventricular repolarization.

51
Q

What is an R-R interval?

A

The duration between two ventricular depolarizations.

52
Q

What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

“rest and digest”

53
Q

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

A

“fight-or-flight”

54
Q

What effect does the alpha-1 have on the body?

A

vasoconstriction

55
Q

What effect does the beta-1 have on the heart?

A
  • increases HR
  • force
  • automaticity
56
Q

What is the formula to find blood pressure?

A

CO x peripheral vascular resistance

EMT-P (2) Cardiology and Resuscitation (8 decks)

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