B2 - The Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are little blood vessels called and what takes place here?
Capillaries where gas exchange takes place
Why are capillaries semi-permeable?
This allows oxygen, vitamins, minerals and water to be exchanged into the tissue to nourish the cells
What 2 things passes out of the cells?
Carbon dioxide and water pass out of the cells to be excreted
What is the process of the things that get passed out of cells?
Capillary exchange
What decides how many capillaries supply an organ?
The metabolic activity in the tissue or organs decides this
What does permeable mean?
Things that go through
What are Erythrocytes?
Red blood cells
What are leucocytes?
White blood cells
What are the 3 elements of the blood?
- Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
- Leucocytes ( white blood cells)
- Platelets
What is the function of the erythrocytes
Carry oxygen
Where are erythrocytes made?
In the bone marrow
When do erythrocytes die?
After 4 months
What is the function of the leukocytes?
Fight infection
Where are leukocytes made?
In the bone marrow
There is … white cell to every… red cells
There is ONE white cell to every 600 red cells
What is the function of the platelets?
The help to clot the blood at wounds and to stop bleeding
What is the liquid element of blood?
Plasma
What are the 4 different cardiovascular disorders?
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Hypertension
- Anaemia
What is coronary heart disease (CHD)?
The narrowing of the coronary arteries
What causes CHD?
Hypertension - when fatty deposits called cholesterol accumulate on the artery walls or blood clots (thrombosis)
What is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries called? (CHD)
Atherosclerosis (cannot dilate)
What can CHD lead to?
- Difficulty for blood to flow to the hearts
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
What is stroke?
This is where our blood supplied to our brains is distributed making parts of the brain die
Why do strokes happen?
Because the blood is not reaching the brain
What are the 2 different types of stroke?
- Ischemic
- Hemorrhagic
What is an ischemic stroke caused by ?
A blocked artery
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
A burst vessel
What is hypertension?
This is when the pressure in blood vessels is high
What is hypertension caused by?
The arteries narrowing so the heart has to pump at a higher pressure
What happens as a cause of hypertension?
Arteries become less elastic due to smoking, age and family history
What are the 3 things hypertension can lead to?
- Heart attack
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
What is anaemia?
This is when you do not have enough red blood cells in your blood
What happens as a cause of Anaemia?
Fewer red blood cells carry oxygen
What are the symptoms of anaemia?
- tiredness
- pale skin
- weakness
- headache
- fast heart rate
What is the cardiovascular system responsible for?
Transporting oxygenated blood around the body to the cells and collecting deoxygenated blood ready for excretion from the cells
What are the 3 things the cardiovascular system consists of?
- Heart
- Blood
- Blood vessels
What is the epicardium wall of the heart?
The external thin layer
What is the myocardium wall of the heart?
The middle layer made of muscle that makes the heart contract
What is the endocardium wall of the heart?
The inner layer which covers the values and tenons
What is the function of the Aorta?
Carries oxygenated blood to the rest of the body
What is the function of the left atrium?
Where oxygenated blood returns to from the lungs
What is the function of the Right atrium?
Where deoxygenated blood returns
What is the function of the left ventricle?
Where oxygenated blood leaves to the rest of the body
What is the function of the right ventricle?
Where deoxygenated blood leaves to go to the lungs
What is the blood pathways of the left atrium?
Lungs
Pulmonary vein
Left atrium
Mitral valve
Left ventricle
Aortic valve
Aorta
What is the blood pathways of the right atrium?
Interior vena cava
Right atrium
Tricuspid valve
Right ventricle
Pulmonary valve
Pulmonary artery
Lungs
How to remember the function of the arteries?
“A” = Away from the heart
How to remember the function of the Veins?
Opposite of Arteries so away from the Heart
What does pulmonary mean?
Anything to do with the Lungs
What are the 3 functions of the veins?
- Transport deoxygenated blood TO the heart
- Prevent backflow of blood with their valves
- Divide into venules and then capillaries
What are the 3 main structures of veins?
- Walls are thinner
- Valves to prevent backflow
- Lumen is thicker than arteries lumen
What are the 5 functions of arteries?
- Carries oxygenated blood AWAY from the heart
- Divide into arterials then capillaries
- Thicker walls than veins
- Delivers blood to organs and tissues
- Has the ability to contract and expand under pressure which allows them to recoil after each heart beat
