Cardiovascular Assessment Flashcards
Precordium
area of the anterior chest containing the heart and great vessels
Base of the Heart
Top - located at the 3rd intercostal space
Apex of the Heart
Bottom - located at the 5th intercostal space
Layers of the Heart (3)
- Pericardium
- Myocardium
- Endocardium
Pericardium
a tough, fibrous, double-walled sac that surrounds and protects the heart
- filled with serous pericardial fluid that ensures smooth, friction-free movement of the heart muscle
Myocardium
the muscular wall of the heart
Endocardium
thin layer of endothelial tissue that lines the inner surface of the heart chambers and valves
Apical Impulse
with each period of diastole and systole, the left ventricle of the heart pushes against the chest wall, creating a palpable pulsation = apical impulse
Carotid Artery
located in the groove between the trachea and the sternomastoid muscle
Jugular Veins
empty unoxygenated blood directly into the superior vena cava –> no cardiac valve separates the vena cava and the right atrium, so the jugular veins can give information on the activity of the right side of the heart
Internal Jugular Vein
lies deep and medial to the sternomastoid muscle
- not visible
- pulsations can be measured
to calculate JVP
External Jugular Vein
lies superficial and lateral to the sternomastoid muscle above the clavicle
- more visible
The Cardiac Cycle
- Diastole - the period of ventricular filling, two phases:
a. protodiastole - passive
filling of the ventricles
(75% CO)
b. presystole - atria contract
to push remaining 25%
of CO into ventricles - Systole - contraction of the ventricles
ECG
P Wave - depolarization of the atria (presystole)
P-Q Interval - atrial depolarization + electrical impulse moving from AV node to ventricles
QRS Complex - depolarization of ventricles (systole)
T Wave - repolarization of repolarization
Health History Points
- Chest Pain
- Dyspnea
- Orthopnea
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Cyanosis or Pallor
- Edema
- Nocturia
- Cardiac History
- Personal Habits
Auscultation of the Carotid Artery
keeping the neck in a neutral position, auscultate 3 points:
1. angle of the jaw
2. midcervical area
3. base of the neck
ask the patient to take a breath, breathe out, and hold briefly for best results
—> ALWAYS done prior to palpating to look for the presence of a bruit
Palpation of the Carotid Artery
palpate each carotid artery medial to the sternomastoid muscle in the neck
- note the contour, amplitude
of the pulse and presence
bilaterally
–> NEVER palpate both at the same time