Cardiac Cycle Flashcards
Blood flow equation
Change in pressure along the vessel / resistance in the vessel
Factors increasing blood pressure
Increased cardiac output
Increased stroke volume
Increased heart rate
Increased peripheral resistance
Increased aortic elasticity
Activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Sympathetic nervous system activation
How does Sympathetic nervous system activation increase blood pressure
Increased heart rate
Ionotropy- heart muscles to beat or contract with more power
Peripheral vascular resistance
How does arterial vasoconstriction increase blood pressure
Increased systemic vascular resistance
How does venous vasoconstriction increase blood pressure
Increased stoke volume so increased cardiac output
Factors controlling vasodilation
Parasympathetic activation
Endothelial factors: ACh, ADP/ATP, nitric oxide
Increased temperature
Acidosis eg lactate, hypercapnoea
Histamine
Prostaglandins
Factors controlling vasoconstriction
Sympathetic activation
Endothelial factors: microtrauma, hypoxia -> endothelin-1 release
Decreased temperature
Adrenaline/noradrenaline
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation
When does venous return increase
During respiratory inspiration due to a decrease in right atrial pressure
Opposite during expiration
Cause of second heart sound
A decrease in ventricular pressure causes the aortic and pulmonary valves to close
End diastolic volume
The volume of blood in the ventricles following diastole
Reached immediately after atrial contraction and immediately before the AV valves close
Normal value for EDV
120 ml
Factors influencing EDV
Ventricular filling pressures
Heart rate
Ventricular compliance
Right ventricular filling pressure
Central venous pressure
Left ventricular filling pressure
Pulmonary wedge pressure
Central venous pressure
Pressure of vena cava immediately before filling right atrium
Stroke volume
Volume of blood pumped by left ventricle per beat
Typical stroke volume
70 ml
End-systolic volume
Volume of blood in ventricles following ventricular systole
Normal ESV value
50 ml
Factors affecting stroke volume
Heart size
Contractility
Preload (end-diastolic volume)
Afterload (ejection pressure during ventricular diastole)
Exercise
pH changes
Electrolyte imbalances
Drugs (e.g. calcium channel blockers)
Increased inotropy
Sympathetic nervous system stimulation
Low extracellular sodium
High extracellular calcium
Adrenaline, dobutamine, dopamine, digoxin, glucagon, levothyroxine
Decreased inotropy
Hypoxia
Acidosis, eg hypercapnoea
Heart failure
Beta-blockers, anaesthetics eg lidocaine, anti-arrhythmogenic eg flecainide
Preload
Determined by end-diastolic volume
the load present before LV contraction has started
• ventricular stretch at the end of diastole
• affecting factors- Venous blood pressure and the rate of venous return
• Occurs during diastole
• Depends on amount of ventricular filling
• Preload is a volume
Factors increasing preload
Increased blood volume
Gravity
Increased venous tone
Frank-starling law
As EDV increases, stroke volume increases due to increased cardiomyocyte stretch and therefore a more forceful contraction
This is because the amount of tension (force of muscle contraction during systole) depends on the resting length of the sarcomere, which is dependent on the amount of blood that fills the ventricles during diastole. The length of the sarcomere determines the amount of overlap between the actin and myosin filaments and so the number of cross-bridges that can form. Low end diastolic volume reduces sarcomere stretching, so fewer myosin heads bind to actin- leading to weaker contraction. However, too much sarcomere stretching prevents optimal overlapping between actin and myosin also reducing the force of contraction.
Optimal length of sarcomere- frank starling law
2.2um
Afterload
• the pressure that the chambers of the heart must generate in order to eject blood out of the heart
• Affected by systemic vascular resistance and and pulmonary vascular resistance
• Occurs during systole
• Depends on arterial blood pressure and vascular tone
• Afterload is a pressure
Factors affecting afterload
Blood pressure
Cardiac output
Systemic vascular resistance
Left ventricular volume
Aortic vessel pressure
Aortic valve resistance
Where does calcium bind to within the troponin complex
Troponin C
What effect does ANP have on blood vessels in the kidney
Vasodilation of the afferent arterioles and vasoconstriction of the efferent arterioles
ANP is released by the atria in response to increased ECF volume stretching the atria. It acts to increase GFR,which increases sodium and water excretion via the kidney
Actions of ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide)
lowersblood pressure, primarily by vasodilation and the inhibition of sodium reabsorption by the kidney, the latter having a diuretic effect.
Increased natriuresis
Decreased vasoconstriction in response to stimuli
Inhibition of renin and ADH
Lowering of systolic blood pressure
Neprilysin inhibitors (sacubitril/valsartan)
Target the endopeptidase inhibitors responsible for breaking down ANP
Treatment for Advanced, treatment-refractory heart failure
Mean arterial pressure
Arterial diastolic pressure/ (1/3 * pulse pressure)
Eg 140/80 mmHg
80/(1/3* 140-80) = 100mmHg
Resting membrane potential
-90 mV
How long does each cardiac action potential last roughly
200-400 ms
Phase 0- depolarisation
An action potential steadily increases the membrane potential of a cardiomyocyte
When the membrane potential reaches -70mV (the threshold value), it triggers the opening of Na+ channels in the membrane
This leads to rapid influx of Na+ into the cell, leading to a sharp rise in membrane potential (depolarisation)
Some L-type Ca2+ channels also open, so Ca2+ also moves into cell
Phase 1- early repolarisation
Once membrane potential reaches +40mV, Na+ channels close
Simultaneously, K+ channels open , leading to efflux of K+ out of the cell
Actions causes a slight decrease in membrane potential
Phase 2- plateau
K+ channels remain open , leading to continued efflux of K+ ions
Ca2+ channels also open, leading to influx of Ca2+
Ca2+ and K+ movement counteract each other- leading to a plateau
Phase 3- rapid repolarisation
Ca2+ channels close but K+ channels remain open with increasing channel permeability
Efflux of K+ causes rapid decrease in membrane potential
Phase 4- resting potential
Na+/K+ pump restores membrane potential to -90mV by moving 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in
Also leaky K+ and Na+ channels which help to restore membrane potential
Why is the pacemaker current referred to as the ‘funny’ current
Mixed Na+/K+ current instead of only one ion type
Activated by hyperpolarisation (rather than depolarisation)
Very slow kinetics compared with other currents
Key differences between pacemaker cells and other cardiomyocytes
Phase 4 depolarisation
Absence of fast sodium channels, phase 0 mediated by sodium channels
Slower action potential upstroke with a lower amplitude
Pacemaker current
Mixture of Na+ and K+ current which is activated by hyperpolarisation at low voltages (around -60/-70 mV)
At end of each SAN action potential, membrane potential decreases due to repolarisation
Once threshold is reached, funny current is activated (phase 4 depolarisation)
Leads to inward current of Na+/K+ which restarts diastolic depolarisation phase
Provides automaticity for pacemaker cells as occurs at end stage, allowing continuous generation of action potentials
Reactive hyperaemia
Vasodilation and transient increase in blood flow that occurs n response to tissue ischaemia as occurs in coronary thrombosis, tissue hypoxia and metabolic waste accumulation
Level of blood flow after vessel occlusion is greater than before
In which blood vessel is there the largest fall in blood pressure and velocity
Arterioles to ensure blood slows down before entering capillaries to allow for optimal oxygen exchange
Which condition causes circulatory shock due to reduced venous return
Haemorrhage due to a reduced circulating volume and so reduced mean systemic filling pressure
Signs of circulatory shock
Weak pulse
Rapid heartbeat
Pale skin
Mean arterial pressure equation
[(Diastolic blood pressure x 2) + systolic blood pressure] / 3
Stages of cardiac cycle
Mid to late diastole
Systole
Early diastole
Diastasis
when the pressure in the atria and ventricular are the same
• filling temporarily stops.
Mid to late diastole
- left atrium and ventricle are both relaxed, but atrial pressure is slightly higher than ventricular pressure because the atrium is filling with blood that is entering from the veins.
- AV valve is held open by this pressure difference, and blood entering the atrium from the pulmonary veins continues on into the ventricle
- aortic valve is closed because the aortic pressure is higher than the ventricular pressure- Throughout diastole, the aortic pressure is slowly decreasing because blood is moving out of the arteries and through the vascular system.
- ventricular pressure is increasing slightly because blood is entering the relaxed ventricle from the atrium, thereby expanding the ventricular volume.
- Near the end of diastole, the SA node discharges and the atria depolarize, as signified by the P wave of the ECG.
- Contraction of the atrium causes an increase in atrial pressure- increased atrial pressure forces a small additional volume of blood into the ventricle, sometimes referred to as the “atrial augmentation.”
- end of ventricular diastole, so the amount of blood in the ventricle at this time is called the end-diastolic volume (EDV).
Which valves are open/closed during mid to late diastole
AV valve open
Semi-lunar valves closed
Atrial augmentation/kick
Contraction of the atrium causes an increase in atrial pressure- increased atrial pressure forces a small additional volume of blood into the ventricle
End-diastolic volume
end of ventricular diastole, so the amount of blood in the ventricle at this time is called the end-diastolic volume (EDV).
Systole
- From the AV node, the wave of depolarization passes into and throughout the ventricular tissue—as signified by the QRS complex of the ECG—and this triggers ventricular contraction.
- As the ventricle contracts, ventricular pressure increases rapidly; almost immediately, this pressure exceeds the atrial pressure.
- This change in pressure gradient forces the AV valve to close; this prevents the backflow of blood into the atrium.
- Because the aortic pressure still exceeds the ventricular pressure at this time, the aortic valve remains closed and the ventricle cannot empty despite its contraction. For a brief time, then, all valves are closed during this phase of isovolumetric ventricular contraction. Backward bulging of the closed AV valves causes a small upward deflection in the atrial pressure wave.
- This brief phase ends when the rapidly increasing ventricular pressure exceeds aortic pressure.
- The pressure gradient now forces the aortic valve to open, and ventricular ejection begins.
- The ventricular volume curve shows that ejection is rapid at first and then slows down.
- The amount of blood remaining in the ventricle after ejection is called the end-systolic volume (ESV).
- As blood flows into the aorta, the aortic pressure increases along with the ventricular pressure. Throughout ejection, very small pressure differences exist between the ventricle and aorta because the open aortic valve offers little resistance to flow.
- Note that peak ventricular and aortic pressures are reached before the end of ventricular ejection; that is, these pressures start to decrease during the last part of systole despite continued ventricular contraction. This is because the strength of ventricular contraction diminishes during the last part of systole.
- This force reduction is demonstrated by the reduced rate of blood ejection during the last part of systole.
- The volume and pressure in the aorta decrease as the rate of blood ejection from the ventricles becomes slower than the rate at which blood drains out of the arteries into the tissues.
isovolumetric ventricular contraction
aortic pressure still exceeds the ventricular pressure at this time, the aortic valve remains closed and the ventricle cannot empty despite its contraction. For a brief time, then, all valves are closed during this phase of isovolumetric ventricular contraction. Backward bulging of the closed AV valves causes a small upward deflection in the atrial pressure wave.
end-systolic volume (ESV).
The amount of blood remaining in the ventricle after ejection
Early diastole:
- As the ventricles relax, the ventricular pressure decreases below aortic pressure, which remains significantly increased due to the volume of blood that just entered. The change in the pressure gradient forces the aortic valve to close. The combination of elastic recoil of the aorta and blood rebounding against the valve causes a rebound of aortic pressure called the dicrotic notch.
- The AV valve also remains closed because the ventricular pressure is still higher than atrial pressure. For a brief time, then, all valves are again closed during this phase of isovolumetric ventricular relaxation.
- This phase ends as the rapidly decreasing ventricular pressure decreases below atrial pressure.
- This change in pressure gradient results in the opening of the AV valve.
- Venous blood that had accumulated in the atrium since the AV valve closed flows rapidly into the ventricles.
- The rate of blood flow is enhanced during this initial filling phase by a rapid decrease in ventricular pressure. This occurs because the ventricle’s previous contraction compressed the elastic elements of the chamber in such a way that the ventricle actually tends to recoil outward once systole is over. This expansion, in turn, lowers ventricular pressure more rapidly than would otherwise occur and may even create a negative (subatmospheric) pressure. Thus, some energy is stored within the myocardium during contraction, and its release during the subsequent relaxation aids filling.
isovolumetric ventricular relaxation.
The AV valve also remains closed because the ventricular pressure is still higher than atrial pressure. For a brief time, then, all valves are again closed during this phase of isovolumetric ventricular relaxation.
- This phase ends as the rapidly decreasing ventricular pressure decreases below atrial pressure.
dicrotic notch.
The combination of elastic recoil of the aorta and blood rebounding against the valve causes a rebound of aortic pressure
pressure in right ventricle to pump blood into lungs
34/10 mmHg
end-diastolic pressure of left ventricle
0 mmHg
pressure in atria
0-5 mmHg
Percentage ejection of blood from left ventricle for females
60-65%
Why is percentage ejection from left ventricle higher for females than males
Needed for fetal circulation
Percentage ejection of blood from left ventricle for males
50-55%
How to calculate max heart rate
Males: 220 - age in years = maximum heart rate
Females: 200 - age in years = max heart rate
First heart sound
When AV valve closed
Second heart sound
When semilunar valve closed
Third heart sound
Increase volume of blood within the ventricle
Slushing in
Caused by turbulent flow into the ventricles and detected near end of first one third of diastole (rapid ventricular filling)
Fluid backing up, as in cardiac failure
Fourth heart sound
Just after atrial contraction at the end of diastole and immediately before S1
A stiff wall
With the atrial systole
Non compliant ventricles
Sliding filament model
Sarcomeres within myofibrils shorten as the Z discs are pulled closer together
1. An action potential arrives- depolarisation of the membrane by Na+, causing Ca2+ to diffuse into the neurone
2. The Ca2+ causes vesicles containing ACh to fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release ACh by exocytosis
3. ACh diffuses across the synoptic cleft and binds to receptors in the sarcolemma, causing Na+ channels to open
4. Na+ diffuse into the sarcolemma, depolarising the membrane and generating an action potential that spreads down the T-tubules
5. L-type Ca2+ channels open and trigger Ca2+ diffuse out of the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol
6. This trigger Ca2+ binds to and opens ryanodine receptor Ca2+ channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane
7. Ca2+ flows into the cytosol, increasing the Ca2+ concentration
8. Ca2+ bind to troponin (TnC) molecules, stimulating them to change shape. This causes troponin and tropomyosin proteins to change position on the actin filaments, exposing myosin-binding sites.
9. The globular heads of the myosin molecules bind with these sites, forming cross-bridges between the two filaments after linkage of calcium and TnC, and deactivation of tropomyosin and TnI
10. The formation of cross-bridges causes the myosin heads to spontaneously bend (releasing ADP and Pi) pulling the actin filaments towards the centre of the sarcomere (i.e. closer together- 10nm) - power stroke
11. ATP binds to the myosin head, producing a change in shape that causes the myosin heads to be released from the actin filaments
12. ATPhydrolase hydrolyses ATP to ADP and Pi which causes the myosin head to cock back to its original position
13. The myosin head can then bind to new binding sites on the actin closer to the Z disc. The process repeats until the muscle is fully contracted
14. Later on, Ca2+-ATPase pumps return Ca2+ to the sarcoplasmic reticulum
15. Ca2+-ATPase pumps and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers remove Ca2+ from the cell
16. Membrane is depolarised when K+ exits to end the action potential
Troponin
• I: with tropomyosin inhibit actin and myosin interaction.
• T: binds troponin complex to tropomyosin.
• C: high affinity calcium binding sites, signalling contraction.
• The latter bond, drives TnI away from Actin, allowing its interaction with myosin.
Tropomyosin
• Elongated molecule, made of two helical peptide chains.
• It occupies each of the longitudinal grooves between the two actin strands.
• Regulates the interaction between the other three!
Actin
• Globular protein.
• Double-stranded macromolecular helix (G).
• Both form the F actin.
Myosin
• 2 heavy chains, also responsible for the dual heads.
• 4 light chains.
• The heads are perpendicular on the thick filament at rest, and bend towards the centre of the sarcomere during contraction (row.)
• heads are 43nm apart
• Alpha myosin and beta myosin.
Titin
giant protein, greater than 1 µm in length, that functions as a molecular spring that is responsible for the passive elasticity of muscle
Titin function
• provision of passive force
• stability of the myosin filaments
• stability of sarcomeres on the descending limb of the force–length relationship
Myosin properties
Hydrolyses ATP
interacts with actin
Actin properties
Activates myosin ATP
Interacts with myosin
Tropomyosin
Modulates actin-myosin filaments
Troponin C
Binds Ca2+
Troponin I
Inhibits actin-myosin interaction
Troponin T
Binds troponin complex to thin filament
A-band:
the region of the sarcomere occupied by the thick filaments.
I-band
occupied only by thin filaments that extend toward the centre of the sarcomere from the Z-lines. It also contains tropomyosin and the troponins.