B5c - running repairs Flashcards
What is a hole in the heart?
a gap in the wall separating either the two ventricles or the two atria
What is the effect of a hole in the heart?
allows blood to move directly from one side of the heart to the other meaning deoxygenated and oxygenated blood can mix reducing the amount of oxygen in the blood
How can a hole in the heart be treated?
the hole may be closed by surgery
What can cause valve damage?
heart attacks
infection
old age
What is the effect of valve damage?
- can cause the valve to not open properly, causing high blood pressure
- can allow blood to flow in both directions meaning it won’t circulate as effectively as normal
How can valve damage be treated?
By replacing the valve with an artificial one
What is coronary heart disease?
when the coronary arteries supplying blood heart muscles get blocked by fatty deposits
What is the effect of coronary heart disease?
reduces blood flow to the heart muscle and results in a heart attack
How can coronary heart disease be treated?
a coronary bypass operation where a piece of blood vessel is taken from another part of the body and inserted to bypass the blockage
What are some examples of artificial parts?
valves
pacemakers
What are the advantages of artificial parts?
can’t be rejected as the body doesn’t recognise metals and plastics as foreign
What are the disadvantages of artificial parts?
they might not last very long and need replacing
Why don’t babies need a double circulatory system?
they get the oxygen they need from their mother and do not need working lungs.
Why does the hole in a babies heart close soon after birth?
so a double circulatory system can be established
Why might someone need a blood transfusion?
they may have been in an accident or having surgery
