Assessment of the Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Heart muscle =
myocardium
What is the leading cause of death for women?
CVD
Each beat of the heart pumps how much?
60 mL of blood or 5 L/min
The heart is protected by the
pericardium
Right Atrium (RA) receives
deoxygenated venous blood
The right ventricle (RV) is
muscular pump located behind the sternum that closes the TRICUSPID valve
After blood is reoxygenated in the lungs. it
flows freely from the 4 pulmonary veins into the left atrium
When the left ventricle is full, the left atrium
contracts, pumping the remaining blood volume into the left ventricle
With systolic contraction, the
left ventricle generates enough pressure to close the mitral valve and open the aortic valve
The pressure of blood in the aorta of a young adult averages about
100 to 120 mm Hg
Pressure of blood in the RA averages about
0 to 5 mm Hg
AV valves do what
separate the atria from the ventricles
The tricuspid valve does what
separates the RA from the RV
The mitral (bicuspid) valve does what
separates the LA from the LV
During systole, the valves close to prevent back flow called
valvular regurgitation of blood into the aorta
The semilunar valves are the
pulmonic valve and aortic
they prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricles during diastole
The pulmonic valve does what
separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery
The aortic valve does what
separates the left ventricle from the aorta
MAP=
60-70 mm Hg
Left main artery divides into two branches:
Left anterior descending branch (LAD)
Left circumflex branch (LCX)
The right coronary artery (RCA) originates from
the right sinus of Valsalva
Electrophysiologic properties of the heart muscle are responsible for
regulating heart rate (HR) and rhythm
Cardiac Output (CO) depends of relationship between
HR and SV (Stroke volume)
CO= HR x SV
Cardiac index:
can be determined by dividing the CO by the body
normal range: 2.7 to 3.2 L/min/m2
Preload:
refers to the degree of the myocardial fiber stretch at the end of diastole and just before contraction
Vascular system purposes:
- Provides a route for blood to travel from the heart to nourish the various tissues of the body
- Carries cellular wastes to the excretory organs
- Allows lymphatic flow to the drain tissue fluid back into the circulation
- Returns blood to the heart for re circulation
Arterial system: By the time blood enters the right atrium, the BP is about
0-5 mm Hg
BP=
CO x Peripheral Vascular resistance
3 mechanisms mediate and regulate BP
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Kidneys
Endocrine system
Baroreceptors:
arch of the aorta and at the origin of the internal carotid arteries are stimulated when the arterial walls are stretched by an increased BP
Peripheral chemoreceptors:
Several 1- to 2- mm collections of tissue have been identified in the carotid arteries and along the aortic arch
The central chemorecptors in the respiratory center of the brain are also stimulated by
hypercapnia (increase in CO2)
and acidosis
Stretch receptors are
sensitive to pressure or volume changes
The venous system completes
the circulation of blood by returning blood from the capillaries to the right side of the heart
Gravity exerts an increase in
hydrostatic pressure in the capillaries when the patient is in an upright position, delaying venous return
Cardiovascular changes associate with Aging:
loss of cardiac reserve
Record history of smoking in pack-years=
number of packs per day multiplied by the number of years the patient has smoked
Obesity is a problem for
African American women
Mexican Americans
Native Hawaiians
Cardiovascular changes associate with Aging: Cardiac valves
Calcification and mucoid degeneration occur
Cardiovascular changes associate with Aging: Conduction system
Pacemaker cells decrease in number
Few muscles fibers remain in the atrial myocardium and bundle of His
Conduction time increases
Cardiovascular changes associate with Aging: Left ventricle
Size increases
Becomes stiff and less distensible
Fibrotic changes decrease the speed
Cardiovascular changes associate with Aging: Aorta and Other large arteries
Thicken and become stiffer and less distensible
Systolic pressure increases
Systemic vascular resistance increases
Left ventricle pumps greater resistance = ventricular hypertrophy
Cardiovascular changes associate with Aging: Baroreceptors
become less sensitive
Note patient’s medical history:
Any major illness such as diabetes mellitus, renal disease, anemia, hypertension, bleeding disorders, etc
Social history =
information about patient’s living situation, domestic partner, other members, environment, and occupation
Nutritional history=
24 hr recall