Cardiac Lectures Flashcards
What is the outermost layer of the heart?
Pericardium
What are the two layers of the pericardium?
Fibrous pericardium and serous pericardium
What is the function of the fibrous pericardium?
- Forms protective outer layer
- Anchors heart to diaphragm / mediastinum
What are the layers of the serous pericardium?
- Inner visceral layer (epicardium)
- Outer parietal layer (fused to fibrous pericardium)
What is the potential space between serous pericardial layers called?
Pericardial cavity (lubricant, NOT air)
What is the mitral valve?
The bicuspid valve between the left ventricle and atrium
What is the fibrous skeleton of the heart?
The collagenous rings that surround the atrio-ventricular canals and extend to the origins of the aorta and pulmonary trunks
What is the purpose of the fibrous skeleton of the heart? (3 reasons)
- Provides an insulating barrier between the atria and
ventricles - Anchors the valve cusps (leaflets) to prevent dilation
of valves - Provides attachment for spirals of myocardium that
extend towards the apex
What is the purpose of chordae tendineae and papillary muscles?
Prevents inversion of the valves into the atria
How many cusps do semi-lunar valves have?
3
What is a valve stenosis?
Valve not opening fully
What is valve regurgitation?
Valves leaking
What is endocarditis?
Infection or vegetation on the valves
What valve is seen in the ‘fish eye’ echo view?
Mitral valve
Which coronary arteries can you see from an anterior view of the heart?
Left anterior descending and right
Describe anatomically how the aorta leaves the heart
The aorta leaves the base of the heart and loops posteriorly and to the left behind the heart
Which coronary arteries can you see from the posterior view of the heart?
The end of the right coronary artery and the circumflex artery (these join)
- you can also see the coronary sinus
What structures can you see from the posterior view of the heart?
Mainly the left ventricle, right and left atrium, pulmonary arteries and veins, vena cava, aorta and coronary sinus
What is the coronary sinus?
The major coronary veins, on the posterior side of the heart, located just above the circumflex artery
Drains blood directly to the right atrium
How is the pulmonary artery related to the pulmonary veins from posterior view?
The pulmonary artery is above the pulmonary veins (between veins and aorta)
What proportion of the myocardium do the epicardial arteries supply?
The outer 2/3rds
When does most of cardiac perfusion occur?
Diastole, as contraction of cardiomyocytes during systole causes extravascular compression of the arteries
Tachycardia can be concerning
What 3 conditions are under the umbrella term Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)?
- Unstable angina
- Non st-elevation MI
- ST-elevation MI
What are the 3 types of angina?
- Stable
- Unstable
- Prinzmetal (variant angina)
What is the difference between stable and unstable angina?
Stable has triggers e.g. exercise or stress and usually stops when resting - caused by fixed atherosclerotic build up
Unstable is unpredictable and can occur at rest
What structures allow cardiocyte contraction?
Myofibrils contract to shorten the sarcomere
What is the name for the site that joins adjacent cardiomyocytes?
Intercalated disks
How do action potentials transfer from cell to cell in the myocardium?
Through gap junctions and intercalated disks
What is cardiac amyloidosis? And what can it cause?
Amyloid deposits take the place of cardiomyocytes - causes restrictive heart disease
What is Frank-Starking law? And what proportion of blood in the ventricles is ejected each contraction?
The heart pumps what it recieves (roughly 2/3rds of the blood in each ventricle each contraction)
Explain the heart sounds
Lub - sound of AV valves closing (start of systole)
Dup - sound of semi-lunar valves closing (end of systole)
What are the 4 different stages of the cardiac cycle?
- Isovolumetric contraction
- Ventricular Ejection
- Isovolumetric relaxation
- Ventricular filling
Explain ventricular filling
- Rapid passive diastolic filling
- Atria contract
- Mitral (and tricuspid) valves close
Coincides with P-wave
Explain isovolumetric contration
Is the QRS of the ECG, LV starts to contract, all valves are closed
What is ventricular pre-excitation? And what is it caused by?
Early excitation and contraction of the ventricles due to accessory pathways
What is long QT syndrome? And what can it predispose?
QT > 450 ms (greater than 2.1 large squares)
(start of Q to end of T)
It can predispose to ventricular arrhythmias
What is a normal QT interval?
350 - 450 ms
How many large ECG squares make up 1 second?
5 squares (each square is 200ms)
What is JVP and why is it useful?
Jugular venous pressure - provides an indication of central venous pressure
What does a raised JVP indicate? And what cardiac causes can elevate JVP?
Venous hypertension. Cardiac causes of this include:
1. Right sided heart failure (can often result from COPD or restrictive lung diseases)
2. Tricuspid regurgitation (caused by endocarditis)
3. Constrictive pericarditis
What can fine bibasilar crackles indicate?
Fluid or mucus build-up in the lungs
What does the bundle of His divide into?
Left and right bundle branches
What does the left bundle branch divide into?
Anterior and posterior fascicle
- anterior goes into LV muscle anteriorly
- posterior goes down the wall into the apex
Where do the purkinje fibres originate from?
The anterior fascicle and the right bundle branch
Define a P wave?
The first deflection of the cardiac cycle. Caused by the atrial contraction
Define Q
Q is the first negative deflection below the isoelectric baseline
Define T waves?
The signal from ventricular repolarisation. Can be negative or positive
What is the U wave? And what is a proposed source
A second deflection following the T wave, usually in the same direction. Its source is unknown, but could be due to delayed purkinje repolarisation
What is the J point?
Is the junction between QRS and T wave. Is found on all ECGs.
There are many causes of J point deviation from baseline (pathological and not)
What is the J wave (Osbourne wave) indicative of?
Hypothermia
What is the ST-segment?
The time between the J point and the start of the T wave. i.e. the time between ventricular depolarisation and repolarisation
- it should be around 0.08 ms
How long is a normal ST segment?
80 - 120 ms
Which leads indicate lateral ischemia?
I, aVL, V5, V6
Which leads indicate septal ischemia?
V1-2
Which leads indicate anterior ischemia?
V3-4
Which leads indicate inferior ischemia?
II, III, aVF
How is coronary vasospasm detected on ECG?
Very similar to acute STEMI, however is transient
What is the difference between segments and intervals?
Segments are usually end-start
Intervals are usually end-end of features
How do you determine heart rate on ECG if regular?
300 / number of large spaces between QRS complexes
How do you calculate HR from ECG if irregular?
Number of complexes in 6 seconds (30 large squares) X 10
What is the standard calibration of an ECG?
10mm (10 small squares) = 1mV
25mm/second
What are the colours of standard 4 electrode ECG?
Right arm = red
Left arm = yellow
Left ankle = green
Right ankle = black
These are the same for the 12-lead ECG as well
Where are V1 and V2 positioned?
4th intercostal space, either side of the sternum
What does right or left arm reversal do to the ECG?
It completely inverts it
What is the maximum value for PR interval?
120 - 200 ms (one large square)
PR interval should be constant
What is the PR interval?
From the start of the P wave to the start of the QRS (Q)
What is usually the lowest bpm in bradycardia?
40 bpm
(If lower, consider heart block)
How does inspiration and expiration impact HR?
Inspiration increases HR
Expiration decreases HR
What is sinus arrhythmia?
Regularly irregular heart rate - can be caused by breathing
(uncommon after the age of 40)
What is the difference between atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter?
QRS complexes are usually regular in flutter. Saw-tooth flutter waves are seen.
What is ventricular tachycardia? And how does it appear on ECG
Broad QRS complex, HR > 120 bpm, independent P waves. Usually >3 beats (this would be ventricular ectopics)
How long does each of the 12 ECG leads show? And how long does the rhythm strip show?
Each lead shows 2.5 seconds and the rhythm strip shows 10s
What is a normal PR interval?
3 - 5 small squares (120 - 200ms)
Describe first degree heart block?
Long PR interval >200ms
(Q comes home late)
Describe 2nd degree Wenkebach (Mobiz 1) heart block?
PR interval gets progressively longer, then skips a QRS, then comes early
Describe Mobiz type 2 heart block
PR stays the same but the heart irregularly skips beats
What is 3rd degree heart block?
P and QRS are completely independent
What is ventricular pre-excitation?
Wide QRS with delta wave, short PR interval, secondary T wave changes
What causes ventricular pre-excitation?
Accessory pathways (e.g. Wolf-parkinson white syndrome)
How do statins lower cholesterol?
Block conversion of acetate to cholesterol
What are 3 main types of cholesterol lowering drugs?
Statins, PCSK9 and Ezetimibe (less common)
Name some common blood pressure medications?
- Ca channel blockers
- ACE inhibitors
- Angiotensin-2 blockers
- diuretics
- beta blockers
What is ‘bad cholesterol’?
Low density lipoprotein (LDL)
Are pulses present in capillaries?
No
What is systolic pressure?
The pressure created by the heart as it pumps
What is diastolic pressure?
The pressure remaining in the vessels during cardiac relaxation
What is pulse pressure?
The difference in systolic and diastolic pressure
What is the usual ratio of Sys BP : Diast BP : PP?
3 : 2 : 1
What is mean arterial pressure?
Arterial pressure averaged over time
Is mean arterial pressure closer to systolic or diastolic pressure?
Diastolic pressure - twice as long is spent in diastole than systole
How much lower are female BPs than male on average?
Around 8 - 10 mmHg
Where should the stethoscope be placed for taking manual blood pressure?
Brachial artery at the Antecubital fossa (inside elbow)
What is a K1 Korotkov sound?
Faint repetitive tapping, artery is just open = systolic pressure
What is a K5 Korotkov sound?
No sound, laminar flow = diastolic pressure
What do you do if K5 goes to zero?
Use K4 (muffling of sounds)
What percentage of adults does hypertension affect?
1 in 4 (25%). Is 3rd biggest risk of premature death in the UK after smoking and diet
What is stage 1 hypertension?
Clinic BP > 140/90 mmHg
What is stage 2 hypertension?
Clinic BP > 160/100 mmHg
What is severe hypertension?
Clinic systolic BP > 180 or diastolic pressure > 120 mmHg
How often should BP be taken in ambulatory BP measurements?
At least twice per hour in the persons usual waking hours
An average of at least 14 measurements should confirm BP
How often should home blood pressure monitoring be measured?
–two consecutive seated measurements, at least 1 minute apart
–blood pressure is recorded twice a day for at least 4 days and
preferably for a week
–measurements on the first day are discarded –
average value of all remaining is used.
How should patients be positioned for BP?
Cuff at level of heart, arm supported
What is the ischaemic cascade?
Hypoperfusion -> cellular metabolic changes -> Diastolic dysfunction -> systolic dysfunction -> ECG changes -> chest pain
What is the doppler equation?
fo = ((v + vo) / (v + vs)) fo
fo = frequency observed
v = speed of sound (1540m/s)
vs = source velocity
vo = velocity observed
What are the 5 echo windows?
Suprasternal, left and right parasternal, apical and subcostal
What are the 2 aspects used when naming echo images?
- Acoustic plane
- View (Long axis, short axis, 4 chamber, 2 chamber, 5 chamber)
What orientation is long axis?
Slices from base to apex of the heart
What orientation is short axis?
Slices roughly parallel to AV line
What is congestive heart failure?
Inability of heart to meet metabolic demands.
Characterised by reduced cardiac output.
Usually occurs if the heart becomes too weak or stiff.
What are some clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure?
Dypsnoea, oedema, fatigue and poor exercise tolerance
Name the pathophysiological changes following MI that lead to CHF?
MI -> reduced heart function -> period of stabilization -> terminal decline
Why does the heart fail several years after MI?
Is a cycle.
LV dysfunction causes LV remodelling and neurohormonal stimulation. This increases LV dysfunction directly and secondary to increased peripheral resistance
Name some of the many aspects of neurohormonal activity that is increased in CHF
Plasma renin, plasma neurepinephrine, ANP, endothelin-1
What are the acute and chronic effects of neurohormonal stimulation in CHF?
Acute: Increases blood pressure, preserves perfusion to organs
Chronic: Increased afterload, reduced stroke volume, myocyte necrosis and apoptosis, sodium retention
What electrolyte is retained as result of CHF neurostimulation?
Sodium
What is cardiac afterload?
The pressure at which the heart must overcome to eject blood during systole
(Is directly proportional to MAP)
How is plasma neuradrenaline associated with mortality in CHF?
Increased neuradrenaline is associated with increased mortality rates in CHF
How does neurohormonal activity impact heart structure in CHF?
The heart becomes dilated and larger
What is ejection fraction equal to?
Stroke volume / end-diastolic volume
What are some of the causes (aetiology) of CHF?
MI, hypertension, valvular heart disease, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, secondary cardiomyopathy (alcohol, anthracyclines), myocarditis
What is anthracycline cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy as result of free radicals from doxorubicin
What is myocarditis?
Inflammation of myocardium
What symptoms can myocarditis cause?
Chest pain, SOB, heart arrhythmias
What is the S1 heart sound?
The first sound caused by the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves