Cardiovascular Flashcards
What are the stages of the cardiac cycle?
1 - Ventricular filling
2 - Ventricular systole
3 - Ventricular diastole
Describe the main events of the cardiac cycle
1 - Ventricular filling:
Blood flows passively into open AV valve
Atria contract to force last bit of blood out
2 - Ventricular systole
Ventricles contract so AV valve closes (isovolumetric contraction)
SL (aortic) valve opens, blood flows into aorta
3 - Ventricular diastole
LV stops contracting and SL (aortic) valve closes
AV valve opens and cylce repeats
Describe the pressure and volume changes in the cardiac cycle
1 - Ventricular filling:
Slight increase in atrial pressure due to systole
Increase in ventricular volume due to filling
2 - Ventricular systole
Increase in LV pressure due to systole
Decrease in LV volume as blood leaves (due to systole)
Increase in aortic pressure as blood enters it
3 - Ventricular diastole
Decrease in LV pressure and volume as LV stops contracting
Small increase in aortic pressure as blood flows back against close SL (aortic) valve = dicrotic notch
What is isovolumetric contraction?
When the ventricle initially contracts and all valves are closed, meaning pressure rises, but volume remains the same for a short period of time.
How long is one cardiac cycle? How much is occupied by systole and diastole?
- Total = 0.8s
- Systole = 0.3 s
- Diastole = 0.5 s
What is Frank Starlin’s Law of the Heart?
The stroke volume increases as end-diastolic volume increases, when all other factors remain constant.
Define end diastolic volume
Volume of blood in the ventricles after ventricular filling
Define stroke volume
Volume of blood ejected from the ventricle
Define preload
A.K.A. end-diastolic volume. The initial stretching force on a muscle (i.e. the amount of blood in the ventricle after filling/before systole)
Define afterload
The pressure the heart must work against during ejection of blood from ventricles during systole
Define contractility
Strength of contraction independent of/at any given EDV during systole
Define elasticity
Myocardial ability to recover its normal shape after removal of systolic stress
Define compliance
How easily a chamber of the heart expands when filled with blood. i.e. C = delta V / delta P
Define resistance
The force which opposes blood flow (i.e. must be overcome to push blood through the circulatory system.)
Define mean arterial pressure (MAP)
Average pressure during one cardiac cycle
What effect does sympathetic stimulation have on force of contraction and how?
Increases force via accelerator nerve acting on ventricular muscle
What effect does sympathetic stimulation have on heart rate and how?
Increases heart rate via accelerator nerve acting on SAN
What effect does parasympathetic stimulation have on hear rate and how?
Decreases heart rate via vagus nerve acting on SAN
What is the equation for stroke volume?
SV = EDV - ESV
Define end systolic volume (ESV)
The amount of blood in ventricles at the end of systole, just before ventricular filling occurs
What is the equation for cardiac output?
CO = HR * SV
Define cardiac output
The volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per minute
What is the equation for mean arterial pressure (MAP)?
MAP = DP + 1/3 (SP - DP)
DP = diastolic pressure
SP = systolic pressure
[SP-DP=Pulse Pressure]
What is the equation for pulse pressure?
PP = SP - DP