Cardiology Flashcards
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm definition?
Localized dilation of the wall of the abdominal aorta.
Aneurysm definition?
Dilation of a vessel.
Most common cause of aneurysm?
Atherosclerotic disease. Most aneurysms develop at the weak point in the wall of an artery.
Most common site for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?.
Below the renal arteries and above the branching of the common iliac arteries.
Unexplained hypotension, unexplained syncope, sudden onset of “ripping” or “tearing” abdominal or back pain, low back or flank pain unrelieved by rest or changes in position, peritoneal irritation, urge to defecate, pulsating mass felt above the umbilicus left of midline: are all signs and symptoms of what?
Leaking of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Often a patient with a rupturing aneurysm has syncope followed by hypotension with bradycardia despite the loss of blood, why?
Stimulation of the vagus nerve. Fibers of the vagus nerve wrap around the aorta, when the aorta tears, the tear stretches these fibers causing bradycardia.
Dissecting aorta aneurysm occurs most commonly in which area?
Ascending aorta.
Severe pain in the back, epigastrium, abdomen, or extremities. They often describe this pain as the most intense pain they have ever experienced. Characterized as “ripping”, “tearing”, or “sharp and cutting like a knife.” Often originates in the back between the scapula. Possibly down the legs. These are all signs and symptoms of what?
Dissecting aortic aneurysm.
typically the pericardial sac holds how much fluid?
25cc (mL)
between the parietal pericardium and the visceral pericardium
treatment of pericardial tamponade is?
pericardiocentisis - aspiration of fluid from the pericardium
what are the two main types of cardiomyopathies?
dilated - thinning of the myocardium
hypertrophic - thickening of ventricular wall and septum. stiff noncompliant chamber usually LV
DEFINITION
Contraction of the atria and ventricles.
Systole
DEFINITION
Relaxation of the atria and ventricles.
Diastole
DEFINTION
The volume of blood ejected from one ventricle in a single heartbeat.
Stroke volume
Stoke volume depends on 3 factors, what are they?
Preload
Afterload
Myocardial contractility
DEFINITION
The volume of blood returning from the heart.
Preload
DEFINITION
The total resistance against which blood must be pumped. Also known as peripheral vascular resistance.
Afterload
DEFINITION
The intrinsic ability of the heart to contractility independently of preload and afterload.
Performance of the cardiac muscle.
Myocardial contractility
DEFINITION
The volume of blood returning to each ventricle.
Happens during preload stage of the cardiac cycle.
End-diastolic volume
___ mL is the amount of blood ejected during each cardiac cycle for the average adult.
70 mL
DEFINITION
A rule that the force of the heartbeat is determined by the length of the fibers making up the myocardial walls.
Myocardial fibers contract more forcefully when they are stretched.
Starling’s Law of the heart
The greater the BLANK, the more difficult it is for the left ventricle to pump blood to the body.
Afterload
DEFINTION
Amount of blood pumped by the ventricles in one minute.
Cardiac output
The autonomic nervous system innervates the BLANK and BLANK
atria and ventricles
The BLANK are supplied by sympathetic nerves
ventricles
Parasympathetic control of the heart is accomplished through the BLANK.
Vagus nerve
DEFINITION
Pertaining to the force or energy of muscle contraction, particularly contractions of the heart.
Inotropic
DEFINITION
Pertaining to agents that affect the heart rate; a drug that increases the heart rate is said to have a positive effect.
Chronotropic
DEFINITION
Pretraining to agents that affect conduction velocity through the conducting tissues of the heart; a drug that speeds conduction is said to have a positive effect.
Dromotropic
What is Becks Triad?
Distended jugular veins
Distant muffled heart sounds
Decreased in systolic blood pressure
3D’s
BP is opposite of Cushing’s Reflex (low vs high)
What is the name of the valve in the heart between the R atria and R ventricle?
Tricuspid
One trick to remembering the name of this valve is that you “TRI to do RIGHT” (as in tricuspid rhymes with right). Another memory aid is you have to TRI before you BI (right side before left side).
What is the name of the valve in the heart between the L atria and L ventricle?
Bicuspid (Mitral)
One trick to remembering the name of this valve is that you “TRI to do RIGHT” (as in tricuspid rhymes with right). Another memory aid is you have to TRI before you BI (right side before left side).
Where is the apex of the heart?
Bottom of the heart just above the diaphragm
Where is the base of the heart?
Top of the heart.
Great vessels connect to the heart through the base.
What are the three layers of the heart from outermost to innermost?
epicardium
myocardium
endocardium
Hint EPI like the outer layer of our skin
What are the atrioventricular valves in the heart?
Tricuspid (3 leaflets)
Mitral / Bicuspid (2 leaflets)
What are the semilunar valves in the heart?
Pulmonic
Aortic
What are the three parts of the aorta?
Ascending - comes directly off the heart
Thoracic - curves inferiorly and goes through the chest (thorax)
Abdominal - goes through the diaphragm and enters the abdomen
Coronary Circulation
Left coronary supplies what arteries of the heart?
left ventricle
intraventricular septum
part of the right ventricle
the conduction system
What are the two main branches of the Left coronary arteries (LCA)?
Anterior descending and circumflex
What does the right coronary artery supply blood to?
Right atria
Right ventricle
Part of the conduction system
What are the two branches of the right coronary arteries?
Posterior descending and marginal
Definition
Period of time when the myocardium is relaxed and cardiac ventricle filling and coronary perfusion occur. Blood enters thru the mitral and tricuspid valves. Pulmonic and aortic valves closed.
First phase
Diastole
Definition
The period of the cardiac cycle when the myocardium is contracting.
Second phase.
Atria contract first to finish emptying blood into the ventricles. Atria kick boost cardiac output.
Systole
What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
Within the sympathetic nervous system, what are the two principal types of receptors?
Alpha and beta
What is the chemical neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system?
Norepinephrine
What do Alpha cells do in the peripheral blood vessels?
Vasoconstriction
What does beta 1 receptors do?
Primary located in the heart.
Increase heart rate and contractility
Beta blocking medication effect B1 receptors. They want to slow down heart rate and decrease blood pressure.
What does beta 2 receptors do?
Primarily located in the lungs.
Bronchodilaton and peripheral vasodilation.
What is the tenth cranial nerve?
Vagus nerve
What is the chemical neurotransmitter in the parasympathetic nervous system?
Acetylcholine
Decrease heart rate and atrioventricular conduction
Definition
Pertaining to heart rate
Chronotropy
Definition
Pertaining to cardiac contractile force (strength of contraction)
Inotropy
Definitions
Speed of impulse transmission in the autonomic control of the heart.
Dromotropy
