Cardiovascular Flashcards
How long do RBCs live?
120 days
Main hormone for driving RBC production?
Erythropoetin
Haemoglobin made up of…
2 alpha polypeptide chains and 2 beta polypeptide chains
RBC size
7-8 x 2-2.5um
WBC size
7-30um
Where are RBCs and WBCs developed?
RBC - Bone marrow
WBC - Thymus (T-Cells)
Bone Marrow (B-Cells)
Humoral Immunity
B cells come into contact and divide by clonal expansion forming Memory B Cells and Plasma Cells (secrete antibodies against pathogens)
Cell-Mediated Immunity
Antigens engulfed and displayed by phagocytes triggering clonal expansion of T(helper) cells into B cells, memory T(helper) cells and T(cytotoxic) cells
Defends against infected cells, cancers and transplant tissues
Define Haemocrit
Ratio of volume of RBCs to total volume
Proportion of T and B lymphocytes in blood
80% T
20% B
Main hormone for driving WBC production
Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (will only stimulate production of myeloblastic WBCs and not lymphoid cells)
Main hormone driving platelet production
Thromboprotein (TPO)
(Leads to increased megakaryocyte production)
Neutrophils (Granulocyte)
Most abundant WBC, phagocytic and release cytokines to reduce inflammation
Monocytes (Granulocyte)
Mature into either macrophages or dendritic cells (both antigen presenting)
Eosinophils (Granulocyte)
Fights parasites
Platelet lifespan and size
7-10 days
2-5um
How are platelets formed from megakaryocytes?
Exocytosis of megakaryocytes
Secretory granules in platelets (4 types)
Alpha granules (e.g-plasminogen)
Dense granules (e.g-serotonin)
Lysosome
Peroxisome
Platelet function
Endothelial injury so platelets change shape to adhere to the cut. Excessive granular release results in aggregation of platelets
The coagulation cascade can then occur from the platelets’ surfaces
Blood serum
Plasma without clotting factors
3 options for treating low clotting factor production
Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
Cryoprecipitate
Fibrinogen Concentrate
Antigens on red cells
Millions on their surface (several hundred are blood group antigens)
Antigens and antibodies present on RBCs of each blood group
Grp A - A antigen, anti-b antibodies
Grp B - B antigen, anti-A antibodies
Grp AB - A and B antigens, no antibodies
Grp O - No antigens, anti-A and anti-B antibodies
Rhesus antigens
Over 45 different Rh antigens
Most important is Rh D (coded by RHD gene)
Highly immunogenic antigen and a high proportion of D neg people form anti-D if exposed to D pos blood
Blood donation types
-Whole blood
-Apheresis - blood removed and separated externally and components not needed are returned
Separation of blood donation
Centrifugation separates blood into RBC layer, WBC and platelet layer, plasma layer
Plasma only kept from male donors (female plasma more likely to contain antibodies that could cause a serious reaction)
Storage and shelf life of each blood constituent
RBCs - 4degreesC, 35 days
Platelets - 22degreesC (with continuous agitation to prevent clumping), 7 days
Cryoprecipitate
FFP thawed to 4degreesC and a fibrinogen rich layer is skimmed off
IVIg
Made from large pools of plasma
Can have normal IVIg - contains antibodies to viruses common in population
Or specific IVIg - contains known high antibody levels to a particular condition (anti-D Ig in pregnancy)
Typical ECG Settings
Speed = 25mm/sec
Voltage = 10mm/mV
ECG - 1 small square is 0.04 seconds, 1 big square (5 small squares) is 0.2 seconds
1 big square in the other direction is 0.5mV
On ECG graph:
Positive deflection (above baseline) shows…
Negative deflection (below baseline) shows…
Net current flow towards lead
Net current flow away from lead
What does each part of ECG show?
P?
P - Atrial contraction (depolarisation)
(atrial repolarisation then occurs but isn’t displayed on ECG)
QRS - Ventricular depolarisation
T - Ventricular repolarisation
Normal PR Interval
120-200ms
Normal QRS Width
Less than 120ms
Prolonged QRS caused by bundle branch block (right bundle or 1 of the 2 left bundles) causing them to work slower
Normal QT interval
Men: 350-440ms
Women: 350-460ms
ECG Electrodes vs Leads
Electrode - Physical connection to patient in order to measure the potential at that point (10 electrodes record a 12 lead ECG)
Lead - Graphical representation of electrical activity in a particular vector
Bipolar vs unipolar ECG leads
Bipolar - Measures pd between 2 electrodes (one designated +ve, one designated -ve)
Unipolar - Measure pd between an electrode and a reference electrode (set as 0)
The Bipolar Limb Leads
I) Pos L arm, Neg R arm (current flowing to L arm shows +ve deflection) (0 degrees)
II) Pos L leg, Neg R arm (current flowing to R arm shows -ve deflection) (60 degrees)
III) Pos L leg, Neg L arm (current flowing to L leg shows +ve deflection) (120 degrees)
Which bipolar limb lead gives most positive deflection?
Lead II as it’s at 60degrees and the heart is slanted at 60degrees (normal cardiac axis of conduction if maximal conduction is between -30 and 90degrees)
Unipolar Limb leads
aVL - from -ve reference to +ve L arm (-30 degrees)
aVR - from -ve reference to + R arm (-150 degrees)
aVF - from -ve reference to + L leg (90 degrees)
6 Unipolar Chest Leads
V1 and V2 look at septum of LV (LAD and Right coronary artery)
V3 and V4 look at anterior wall (left anterior descending artery)
V5 and V6 look at lateral wall (circumflex artery)
Blood flow through organs
Liver 27%
Kidneys 22%
Muscle 15%
Brain 14%
Skin 6%
Bone 5%
Heart 4%
Other 3.5%
Bronchi 2%
Thyroid 1%
Adrenal 0.5%
Blood flow through organs
Liver 27%
Kidneys 22%
Muscle 15%
Brain 14%
Skin 6%
Bone 5%
Heart 4%
Other 3.5%
Bronchi 2%
Thyroid 1%
Adrenal 0.5%
Myogenic tone
Offers a resting level vascular smooth muscle contractile activity so muscle in arteries is never fully relaxed
Capacitance vessels
Blood vessels that contain most of the blood (the veins)
What 2 factors move blood through veins
-Contraction of skeletal muscle on veins
-Sympathetic Nervous System mediated vasoconstriction
Where do lymphatics empty into the venous system
Via thoracic duct into the left subclavian vein
Cardiac Output (CO) =
Heart Rate (HR) x Stroke Volume (SV)
Blood Pressure =
CO x Total Peripheral Resistance (TPR)
Pulse Pressure (PP) =
Systolic - Diastolic Pressure
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) =
Diastolic pressure + 1/3 PP (between Diastolic and Systolic)
Frank-Starling Mechanism
Says the lower the Left Ventricle End Diastolic Pressure (LVEDP), the lesser the stroke volume in systole (as less blood is flows back into the LV)
Typical artery for taking blood pressure
Brachial artery (big artery, located on the arm and level with the heart)