Cardiovascular- Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

What artery supplies the right ventricle?
right (acute) marginal artery
What artery supplies the SA and AV node?
the right coronary a. (note that RCA infarct can cause complete heart block)
What are the main branches of the left main coronary a.?
- left circumflex coronary a. (LCX)
- left anterior descending a. (LAD)
What does the LCX supply?
the lateral and posterior walls of the left ventricle and the anterolateral papillary muscles
What does the LAD supply?
the anterior 2/3rds of the interventricular septum, anterolateral papillary muscle, and the anterior surface of the left ventricle
The majority (85%) of people are ‘right-heart dominant’. What does this mean?
the PDA (posterior descending a.) arises from the RCA
What does left-heart dominant mean?
the PDA arises from the LCX (co-dominant= arises from the LCX and the RCA)
Coronary artery occlusion most commonly occurs where?
LAD
When does coronary artery blood flow peak?
early diastole
Enlargement of what part of the heart is associated with dysphagia due to compression of the esophagus or hoarseness due to compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
the most posterior part, the left atrium
What is the eqn for CO?
HR X SV or via the Fick principle:
CO= rate of O2 consumption/ (arterial O2 content- venous O2 content)
What is the eqn for mean arterial pressure?
CO x TPR, or
MAP= 2/3 diastolic pressure + 1/3 systolic pressure
What is pulse pressure?
What is the eqn for SV?
end diastolic volume - end systolic volume
How does SV and HR change during exercise?
during the early stages of exercise, both HR and SV increase, and eventually SV plateaus
What are some things associated with increased pulse pressure?
- hyperthyroidism
- aortic regurg
- aortic stiffening
- obstructive sleep apnea
- exercise (transient)
Isolated increased systolic pressure in the elderly suggests what?
aortic stiffening
What are some things associated with decreased pulse pressure?
- aortic stenosis
- cardiogenic shock
- cardiac tamponade
- heart failure
What are the three variables that affect stroke volume?
- contractility
- preload and afterload
What things increase contractility?
- catecholamines (increase the activity of SR Ca2+ pumps)
- increased intracellular Ca2+
- decreased extracellular Na+ (via decreased activity of the Na/Ca2+ pump)
- Digitalis
How does digitalis increase contractility?
by blocking Na/K pumps leading to increased intracellular Na+, decreasing Na/Ca exchanger activity, and thus leading to elevated levels of Ca2+
What are some things that decrease contractility?
- B1-blockade (decreased cAMP)
- acidosis
- acidosis
- hypoxia/hypercapnia
- non-dihydropyridine CCBs
What are some things that increase myocardial oxygen demand?









