Cardiovascular Flashcards
Hemodynamics
blood flow through blood vessels
hydrostatic pressure
pressure exerted by a fluid
F=ΔP/R
F = flow
ΔP = pressure difference between two fixed points
R = resistance to flow
flow
high to low pressure
ΔP > R
no pressure difference
= no flow
pressure gradient
creates flow
differences in pressure move blood
pressure
created from contraction of heart chambers
blood exerts pressure on the walls of blood vessels and heart chambers
resistance to blood flow
viscosity
length of blood vessel
diameter of vessel
viscosity
friction between molecules of a flowing fluid
increased red blood cells
length and diameter of blood vessel
determines amount of contact between moving blood and stationary wall of vessel
Poiseuille’s equation
only used with laminar blood flow
R = 8ηl / πr^4
laminar flow
fluid particles follow smooth paths in layers - each layer moves smoothly past adjacent layers with no mixing
functions of cardiovascular system
- deliver O2 and nutrients, remove waste products of metabolism
- fast chemical signaling to cells by circulating hormones or neurotransmitters
- thermoregulation
- mediation of inflammatory and host defense responses
components of the cv system
heart (pump)
blood vessels (pipes)
blood (fluid)
arterioles
small branching vessels with high resistance
capillaries
transport blood between arterioles and venules
exchange of materials
arteries
move blood away from the heart
veins
move blood towards the heart
closed circulatory system
blood is always in blood vessels or the heart
allows body to generate greater pressures
atria
two
thin walled
low pressure chambers
receive blood returning to the heart
apex
bottom of heart (left of midline)
ventricles
two
forward propulsion of blood
base
top of heart
where blood vessels enter
interatrial septum
separates left and right atria
interventricular septum
separates left and right ventricles
septa
dual pump
allows right and left sides to function independently
pulmonary circulation
blood leaves the right heart by the pulmonary trunk and is carried to the gas exchange surfaces of the lungs
poorly oxyg. blood enters lungs → O2 diffuses from alveoli to blood → oxyg. blood leaves lungs + returns to left heart
systemic circulation
blood leaves the left heart via the aorta → carried to body
oxyg. blood enters tissues → O2 diffuses from blood to tissues → poorly oxyg. blood leaves tissues + returns to right heart via vena cavae
series flow
blood must pass through the pulmonary and systemic circuits in sequence
parallel flow
within systemic circuit - most organs
each organ is supplied by a different artery = independent regulation of flow to different organs
pericardium
fibrous sac surrounding the heart and roots of vessels
has 3 layers
functions of pericardium
- stabilization of heart in thoracic cavity
- protection of heart from mechanical trauma, infection
- secretes pericardial fluid to reduce friction
- limits overfilling of the chambers, prevents sudden distension
fibrous pericardium
outside layer
serous pericardium
produces the fluid that fills pericardial cavity
- parietal
- visceral
parietal pericardium
attached to fibrous pericardium
visceral pericardium
epicardium
layer closest to heart
pericardial fluid
in the cavity
decreases friction
pericarditis
inflammation of pericardium
decreases ventricular filling
cardiac tamponade
compression of heart chambers due to excessive accumulation of pericardial fluid
decreases ventricular filling
ventricular walls
left ventricle wall is thicker than right ventricle (thicker myocardium)
left develops higher pressures than right
heart wall
epicardium
myocardium
endocardium
all four chambers
epicardium
visceral pericardium
covers outer surface of heart
myocardium
muscular wall
myocytes, blood vessels, nerves
endocardium
endothelium covering inner surfaces of heart and heart valves
continuous with endothelium of blood vessels
myocytes
cardiac muscle cells
branched (y shaped) and joined longitudinally
striated
one nucleus per cell, many mitochondria
intercalated disk
interdigitated region of attachment (where myocytes join)
desmosomes and gap junctions
gap junctions
spread action potentials across the atria or ventricles
valves
thin flaps of flexible endothelium-covered fibrous tissue attached at the base to the valve rings
made of collagen
leaflets/cusps
valve rings
dense fibrous connective tissue
site of attachment for the heart valves
how valves function
unidirectional flow of blood through heart
open/close passively due to pressure gradients
- forward p.g. opens one-way valve
- backward p.g. closes one-way valve but it cannot open in opposite direction
atrioventricular valves
between atria and ventricles
prevent backflow of blood into atria when ventricles contract
AV valve apparatus: cusps, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles
tricuspid valve
right AV valve
three cusps
bicuspid valve
mitral valve
left AV valve
two cusps
chordae tendineae
tendinous type tissue
extend from edges of each cusp to papillary muscle
papillary muscles
cone shaped
contraction causes the chordae tendineae to become taut (tension)
function of AV valve apparatus
prevents eversion of the AV valves into the atria during contraction of the ventricles
semilunar valves
between ventricle and artery
3 cusps
no apparatus
prevent backflow of blood from arteries into ventricles when ventricles relax
pulmonary valve
between right ventricle and pulmonary trunk
aortic valve
between left ventricle and aorta
cardiac skeleton
fibrous skeleton of the heart; made of dense connective tissue (does not conduct action potentials = electrically inactive)
separates atria and ventricles
point of attachment for valve cusps, myocardium
cardiac skeleton attachment
cardiac muscle attaches to cardiac skeleton
dense connective tissue between valve rings
coronary circulation
movement of blood through tissues of the heart
coronary arteries
originate at aortic sinuses at base of ascending aorta
coronary veins
drain into the coronary sinus, which empties into right atrium
coronary sinus
collection of veins joined together to form a large vessel that collects blood from the myocardium of the heart
cardiac syncytium
set of cells that act together
how myocytes communicate with each other
functional = excitation spreads over both ventricles or both atria
all or none property
2: atrial and ventricular syncytia
automaticity
autorhythmicity
cardiac muscle contracts in the absence of outside stimulation as a result of its own generation of action potentials
two types of myocytes
contractile cells - 99%
conducting cells - 1%
contractile cells
myocardium
mechanical work → pump, propel blood, do not initiate action potentials
conducting cells
initiate and conduct the action potentials
have few myofibrils
make up the conducting system
components of the conducting system
sinoatrial node
internodal pathways
atrioventricular node
bundle of His
bundle branches
Purkinje fibers
SA node
cardiac pacemaker
initiates action potentials = sets heart rate
internodal pathways
stimulus is passed to contractile cells of both atria and to AV node
AV node
100 msec delay ensures atria depolarize and contract before the ventricles
(slower pacemaker potential)
allows ventricles time to fill with blood before they contract and shut the AV valve
Bundle of His
below AV node; together = only electrical connection between atria and ventricles
bundle branches
left and right travel along interventricular septum
Purkinje fibres
branch from bundle branches
large number; diffuse distribution
fast conduction velocity → left and right ventricular myocytes depolarize and contract at the same time
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
electrical signals bypass AV node and move from the atria to ventricles faster than normal
accessory pathway transmits electrical impulses abnormally from ventricles back to atria
rapid heart rate (tachycardia), arrythmias
action potential
initiate contraction in muscle cells
brought on by rapid change in membrane permeability to certain ions
fast action potential
depolarization is instantaneous
in atrial and ventricular myocardium (contractile cells)
in Bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers