Cardiovascular Flashcards
Define chronotropy, inotropy, dromotropy and lusitropy
Chronotropy: heart rate
Inotropy: strength of contraction
Dromotropy: conduction velocity
Lusitropy: rate of myocardial relaxation (during diastole)
Describe the function of the sodium-potassium pump.
the sodium-potassium pump maintains the cell’s resting potential. Said another way, it separates the charge across the cell membrane keeping the inside of the cell relatively negative and the outside of the cell relatively positive.
How it works:
* it removes the Na+ that enters the cell during depolarization
* it returns K+ that has left the cell during repolarization
* For every 3 Na+ ions it removes, it brings 2 K+ ions into the cell
List the 5 phases of the ventricular action potential, and describe the ionic movement during each phase
Phase 0: Depolarization -> Na+ influx
Phase 1: Initial repolarization -> K+ efflux & Cl- influx
Phase 2: Plateau -> Ca +2 influx
Phase 3: Repolarization -> K+ efflux
Phase 4: Na+/K+ pump restores resting membrane potential
List the 3 phases of the SA node action potential, and describe the ionic movement during each phase.
Phase 4: Spontaneous depolarization -> leaky to Na+ (Ca+2 influx occurs at the very end of phase 4)
Phase 0: Depolarization -> ca +2 influx
Phase 3: Repolarization -> K+ efflux
What process determines the intrinsic heart rate, and what physiologic factors alter it?
The rate of spontaneous phase 4 depolarization in the SA node determines heart rate.
We can increase HR by manipulating 3 variables:
* the rate of spontaneous phase 4 depolarization increases (reaches TP faster)
* TP becomes more negative (shorter distance between RMP and TP)
* RMP becomes less negative (shorter distance between RMP and TP)
When RMP and TP are close, it’s easier for the cell to depolarize
When RMP and TP are far, it’s harder for the cell to depolarize
MAP calculation
MAP = (2x Diastolic) + systolic/3
or ((COxSVR)/80)+CVP
normal 70-107 mmHg
What is the formula for systemic vascular resistance
((MAP-CVP)/CO)X 80
Normal: 800-1500 dynes/sec/cm-5
like all of these calculations, you’ll see the normal values vary from book to book
What is the equation for pulmonary vascular resistance?
((MPAP-PAOP)/CO)x 80
Normal 150-250 dynes/sec/cm-5
Describe the Frank-Starling relationship
describes the relationship between ventricular volume (preload) and ventricular output (cardiac output)
* Increased preload -> increased myocyte stretch -> ventricular output
* decreased preload-> decreased myocyte stretch -> ventricular output
Increasing preload increases ventricular output, but only up to a point. To the right of the plateau, additional volume overstretches the ventricular sarcomeres, decreasing the number of cross-bridges that can be formed and ultimately reducing cardiac output. This contributes to pulmonary congestion and increases PAOP.
What factors affect myocardial contractility
Contractility (inotropy) describes the contractile strength of the heart.
Just remember that Chemicals affect Contractility-particularly Calcium (C’s)
Most examples in the table either alters the amount of Ca+2 available to bind to the myofilaments or impacts the sensitivity of the myofilaments to Ca+2
increased contractility: SNS stimulation, catecholamines, calcium, digitalis, phosphodiesterase inhibitors
Decreased contractility: myocardial ischemia, severe hypoxia, acidosis, hypercapnia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, volatile anesthetics, propofol, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers
Discuss excitation-contraction coupling in the cardiac myocyte
- an action potential is propagated from an adjacent cell.
- depolarization of the T-tubule opens voltage-gated L-type Ca channels. Ca enters the myocyte. This occurs during phase 2 of the action potential
- The influx of Ca activates the ryanodine-2 receptor (RyR2)
- Ca+ is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This is called calcium-induced calcium- release
- Ca binds to troponin C . This stimulates cross-bridge formation and causes myocardial contraction
- Ca unbinds from troponin C. this causes myocardial relaxation
- Most of the calcium is returned to the sarcoplasmic reticulum via the SERCA 2 pump (ATP dependent). Once inside, Ca binds to a storage protein called calsequestrin (CSQ)
- Some calcium is removed from the myocyte by the sodium/calcium exchange pump (NCX)
- The Na/K-ATPase restores resting membrane potential
*the duration of contraction is determine by the action potential duration
What is afterload, and how do you measure it in the clinical setting?
Afterload is the force the ventricle must overcome to eject its stroke volume.
In the clinical setting, we use the systemic vascular resistance as a surrogate for LV afterload.
What law can be used to describe ventricular afterload?
We can apply the law of Laplace to better understand ventricular afterload
Wall stress + (intraventricular pressure x radius)/ ventricular thickness
* intraventricular pressure is the force that pushes the heart apart
* wall stress is the force that hold the heart together (it counterbalances intraventricular pressure)
Wall stress is reduced by:
* Decreased intraventricular pressure
* decreased radius
* Increased wall thickness
List 2 conditions that set afterload proximal to the systemic circulation
Aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta
Use the wiggers diagram to explain the cardiac cycle
Pay attention to the following:
* where systole and diastole occur
* 6 stages of the cardiac cycle
* 4 pressure waveforms
* how the pressure waveforms match up to the EKG
* how the valve position changes match up to the EKG
Relate the 6 stages of the cardiac cycle to the LV pressure-volume loop
- Rapid filling- Diastole
- Reduced Filling- Diastole
- Atrial kick- Diastole
- Isovolumetric contraction- systole
- Ejection - Systole
- Isovolumetric relaxation - Diastole
you can measure SV, and EDV
How do you calculate ejection fraction
The ejection fraction is a measure of systolic function (contractility). It is the percentage of blood ejected from the heart during systole. Said another way, the EF is the stroke volume relative to end-diastolic volume.
Amount of blood pumped out of the ventricle/total amount of blood in ventricle x 100= EF%
>50% normal
41-49%- mild dysfunction
26-40%- moderate dysfunction
<25% severe dysfunction
(Stroke volume/End-diastolic volume) x 100
- SV is calculated as: EDV-ESV
what is the best TEE view for diagnosing myocardial ischemia?
midpapillary muscle level in short axis.
What is the equation for coronary perfusion pressure?
Coronary perfusion pressure = Aortic DBP- LVEDP
* Aortic DBP is the pushing force
*LVEDP is the resistance to the pushing force
therefore, increasing AoDBP or decreasing LVEDP (PAOP) improves CPP.
Which region of the heart is most susceptible to myocardial ischemia? Why?
The LV subendocardium is most susceptible to ischemia.
The LV subendocardium is best perfused during diastole. As aortic pressure increases, the LV tissue compresses its own blood supply and reduces blood flow. The high compressive pressure in the LV subendocoardium coupled with a decreased coronary artery blood flow during systole increases coronary vascular resistance and predisposes this region to ischemia.
What factors affect myocardial oxygen supply and demand?
Factors that reduce oxygen delivery:
* Decreased coronary flow- tachycardia, decreased aortic pressure, decreased vessel diameter (spasm or hypocapnia), increased end diastolic pressure
* Decreased CaO2- hypoxemia, anemia
* Decreased Oxygen extraction- Left shift of Hgb dissociation curve (decreased P50), decreased capillary density
Factors that increase Oxygen Demand:
Tachycardia, HTN, SNS stimulation, increased wall tension, increased end diastolic volume, increased afterload, increased contractility
discuss the nitric oxide pathway of vasodilation
Nitric oxide is a smooth muscle relaxant that induces vasodilation.
Steps in the nitric oxide cGMP pathway:
* nitric oxide synthase catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide.
*nitric oxide diffuses from the endothelium to the smooth muscle,
* Nitric oxide activates guanylate cyclase.
*Guanylate cyclase converts guanosine triphosphate to cyclic guanosine monophosphate
* increased cGMP reduces intracellular calcium, leading to smooth muscle relaxation
* Phosphodiesterase deactivates cGMP to guanosine monophosphate (this step turns off the NO mechanism)
Where do the heart sounds match up on the left ventricle pressure volume loop?
S3: May suggest heart failure
S4: May suggest decreased ventricular compliance
Notice the MV opens/closes on the bottom of the loop, and the AV open/closes on the top of the loop
What are the two primary ways a heart valve can fail?
Stenosis:
* there is a fixed obstruction to forward flow during chamber systole
* the chamber must generate a higher than normal pressure to eject the blood
Regurgitation:
* the valve is incompetent (it’s leaky)
* Some blood flows forward, and some blood flows backward during chamber systole