cardio physio Flashcards
what is the sequence of flow of electrical signals through the heart?
SA node→ AV node→ bundle of his→ left/right bundles→ purkinje fibres
what is the function of the AV node?
ensures atria & ventricles function in sync
- ensures complete atrial depolarisation before depolarisation spreads to ventricles
- ie atria contract→ ventricles contract (AV nodal delay)
what is the function of fibrous rings?
- electrically insulates ventricles from atria (AV node’s the only gate)
- prevents signals from travelling from atria→ ventricles directly
- ie allows AV node to regulate ventricular depolarisation
what is the function of bundle of his?
- specially rapidly conducting tissues
- allows synchronised contraction between & within ventricles
what are the consequences of RCA (right coronary artery) being infarcted?
RCA supplies SA node, AV node, RV and RA
- SA node compromised (fires impulses slower→ bradycardia)
- AV nodal block
what happens during AV nodal heart block?
- impulses from atria to ventricles blocked ie ventricular rate is no longer controlled by SA node (now controlled by downstream pacemaker discharging at slower rate)
- heart rate decreases
- ventricular stroke volume’s variable due to variable filling (no longer atria full→ ventricle pump)
how is heart rate regulated?
- by ANS
- through the vasomotor centre (VMC)
what factors indirectly increase heart rate (via VMC) (4)
- increased pain
- fall in arterial pressure
- increase H+ ions
- inspiration
what factors directly increase heart rate (3)
- catecholamines (stress hormones)
- increase temperature
- thyroxines (hormones regulating metabolism)
what are the sympathetic effects on the depolarising activity of SA node (2)
- resting membrane potential is more positive
- slope of depolarisation is steeper
threshold potential for SA to fire impulse is reached faster→ SA node fires more frequently!!
what causes upstroke in ventricular muscle action potential?
depolarisation of purkinje fibres→ depolarise muscles→ opens voltage gated Na+ channels→ INFLUX of Na+
what causes early fast repolarisation in ventricular muscle action potential?
K+ channels open→ EFFLUX of K+
what causes plateau in ventricular muscle action potential?
Ca2+ channels open→ INFLUX of Ca2+
(K+ efflux> Ca2+ influx→ gradual downward sloping)
what causes repolarisation (phase 3) in ventricular muscle action potential?
Ca2+ channels close→ Ca2+ influx stops→ K+ efflux continues
what gives rise to the P wave?
atrial depolarisation
what gives rise to the QRS complex?
ventricular depolarisation (atrial repolarisation is masked)
what gives rise to the T wave?
ventricular repolarisation
what is PR interval?
- start of P wave to start of QRS complex
- time taken for signal to travel from AV node to ventricles (conduction through AV node)
what are the pathologies of PR interval? (2)
- wide (>2 squares): P-mitrale/LA enlargement
- tall (>2 squares): P-pulmonale/RA enlargement
what is the QRS interval?
time for ventricular depolarisation
what is the RR interval?
- peak R to peak R
- time taken from one cycle to the next ie heart rate
- irregular: arrythmias
what is the QT interval?
- start of QRS to end of T
- time for ventricular depolarisation + repolarisation
what is the ST segment?
- end of QRS to start of T
what does a Tall QRS complex show? (increase voltage/amplitude)
hypertrophy
what does a tall T wave show?
hyperkalaemia
what does an elevated ST segment show?
myocardial infarction (STEMI)
what does a depressed ST segment show?
myocardial ischaemia
what are the functions of ECG? (4)
- suspect disturbances in cardiac rhythm & conduction
- localise & assess extent of IHD
- assess size of various chambers in the heart
- assess effects of changes in electrolyte concentrations in the body on heart function (esp K+)
what are the leads associated with antero-septal region? (4)
V1, V2, V3, V4
what supplies antero-septal region of the heart?
Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery
what are the leads associated with antero-lateral region? (4)
1, aVL, V5, V6
what supplies antero-lateral region of the heart?
left circumflex artery
what are the leads associated with inferior region? (3)
2, 3, aVF
what supplies inferior region of the heart?
right coronary artery
what are the leads associated with posterior region?
none
what supplies posterior region of the heart?
right coronary artery
why are troponin levels elevated during myocardial infarction?
dead heart muscles release troponin into the bloodstream
what does starling’s law of the heart state?
the heart adjusts its pumping ability (SV) according to how much it’s filled (as volume of blood in ventricle increases, output/SV increases)
aka EDV increases→ SV increases
how is contractility regulated?
SNS (activated SNS→ NE binds to receptors on cardiac muscles→ influx of Ca2+→ increase contractility)
aka ESV decreases→ SV increases
how is contractility measured?
EJECTION FRACTION
EF = SV/EDV
(SV = EDV-ESV)