Cardiac haemodynamics Flashcards
How do cardiac cells join?
Cardiac cells joined together by desmosomes
What does calcium do for muscles to contract?
Calcium outside of cell, calcium channels open and come into cell. Calcium used to start a cardiac contraction. Calcium passes into cells and binds to troponin. Induces conformational change in troponin-tropomyosin complex. Exposes binding sites of actin.
What happens when the the actin-myosin biding site is exposed?
- Myosin heads can then bind to actin
- This process requires ATP
- Myosin exerts, “pulling” action on actin
- Initiates muscle contraction
What do troponin and tropomyosin do?
Pre-contraction, troponin and tropomyosin form a complex that blocks the myosin binding site on actin.
Then in systole what happens with the calcium ions?
Then, in systole, calcium ions arrive inside the sarcoplasm and bind to troponin, moving the Tn-Tm complex and exposing the myosin binding.
What does the myosin head do when it binds to the binding site?
Myosin heads dock in and exert a “pulling” action on the actin, resulting in contraction. The energy needed for this is derived from ATP turnover.
Cardiac energetics- what does ATP do wand what does it result in?
• Chemical energy is stored within ATP: Phosphate group released from ATP to ADP
• In this way, the chemical energy stored within ATP is converted into mechanical energy
• This results in:
– Force generation
– Myofilament shortening
– Transforms basic mechanical energy into useful hydraulic function for the whole organ
What is hydraulic function and what does it do?
- Force generation-some ejection
- Longitudinal filament shortening- horizontal and circumferential thickening
- Reduces LV chamber diameter and causes further ejection
How can you maximise ejection fraction?
The increased wall stress raises fluid pressure in the chamber, causing LV pressure to exceed Ao pressure and force the aortic valve open. Furthermore, the myocardial fibres thicken in several directions, leading to a complex geometric reconfiguration that causes further blood to be displaced from the ventricle into the circulation. This sophisticated pump action maximises ejection fraction.
How are cardiac cells organised?
Cardiac cells organised longitudinally (top to bottom), circumferential muscle (around the heart).
How does myocardium contract?
Myocardium contracts horizontally, longitudinally and twisting which gives maximum amount of blood ejected from heart.
What does the cardiac system have resistance?
The system into which blood is propelled has inherent resistance as it branches out into increasingly small and dense vessel networks.
How is the friction of the cardiac system overcome?
To overcome this “friction”, cardiac output needs to be maximised by effective power generation in the pump.
Therefore a diastolic period is essential – thus, the electrics repolarise, the myocardium relaxes and allows LV filling. Meanwhile the aortic valve shuts, the coronary sinuses fill so the coronaries are perfused, and the myocardium receives oxygen and glucose to allow more ATP to be generated.
What is cardiac functional reserve?
Cardiac reserve is the capacity to augment performance on demand.
What does the body need the cardiac functional reserve?
– Exercise
– Intercurrent illness
– Fluid overload
– Pregnancy
