Cardiovascular 2 Flashcards
Why does the heart not beat as soon as the sino atrial node generates and submits an action potential? (In a healthy person )
The SAN transmits to the AVN where there is a delay of around -120-200ms. (If longer than this, then there is a problem in the conduction)
How many action potentials constitute one heart beat and how long does the action potential last for ?
1 heart beat = 1 action potential Each contraction (hence one action potential) is 280ms. Quite long.
Describe the spread of excitation in systole
- SAN fires an AP which spreads over the atria causing atria systole.
- AP reaches the AVN where it’s delayed by 120ms
- then spreads down the septum between the ventricles
- then spreads through ventricular myocardium from endo to epicardium
- ventricle contracts from the apex upwards forcing blood out
What is stroke volume ?
It is the amount of blood ejected per contraction of the ventricles.
It’s the difference between end diastolic volume and end systolic volume.
Describe the pressure changes needed for each of the valves of the heart to open.
Aortic - LV pressure»_space; aorta
Mitral - LA pressure»_space; LV
Pulmonary - RV»_space; PA
Tricuspid - RA»_space; RV
What is isovolumetric contraction ?
The part of the cardiac cell where the ventricles are contracting however the volume of the blood in the ventricles isn’t decreasing
- the outflow valves haven’t opened as the pressure generated isn’t high enough
What is isovolumetric relaxation?
The part of the cardiac cycle where the ventricle pressure is atrial pressure. The ventricles are relaxing but they are not being filled by blood.
What brings the endocardial tubes into the thoracic region?
Cephalocaudal folding of the embryo.
What is the cardiogenic field and where does it lie?
This is the future heart and what the future blood vessels and blood cells develop from. It’s created during gastrulation and lies in the cranial end before folding occurs.
In the primitive heart, where does blood enter and leave ?
Inflow through sinus venosus (caudal) and outflow through aortic roots (cranial)
What are the different sections of the primitive heart?
From cranial to caudal; Aortic roots (most cranial) Truncus arteriosus Bulbus cordis Ventricle Atrium Sinus venosus (most caudal)
In the primitive heart tube, the inflow and outflow tracts are caudally and cranially respectively located. How is it that in the neonate the inflow is behind the outflow and both are cranially located?
Around day 23, folding occurs of the primitive heart tube.
The Cephalic portion bends ventrally, caudally and to the right
- IE forwards, downwards and to the right.
The caudal portion bends dorsally, cranially and to the left.
- IE backwards, upwards and to the left.
After looping, how does the atrium communicate with the ventricle ?
Via the atrioventricular canal. This represents the first division of the atrium and ventricle.
Describe in brief the development of the atria.
- Sinus venosus receives blood from all the placenta yolk sac and the embryo body.
- the R and L horns are both equal size but as blood going into the sinus venosus switches to the right horn, then the left horn slowly recedes. The right horn becomes absorbed by the enlarging right atria.
RA
- formed from most of the primitive atrium.
- absorbs the right horn of the sinus venosus.
LA
- formed from a small portion of the primitive atrium
- absorbs proximal portion of the pulmonary veins.
How many aortic arches arise early in the arterial system and which paired branches recede completely ?
6 pairs of arched vessels
5th paired arched vessels recede completely.
