Cardiovascular (Dr Rohit) Flashcards
what function does the heart serve
- demand and supply
- biochemical processes need energy which creates a demand for oxygen (demand)
- Heart generates pressure and creates a pressure gradient (critical for supply)
Cardiac output =
heart rate x stroke volume (~80mL/beat)
= amount of blood ejected per unit time
systole
contraction
diastole
relaxation
isovolumetric relaxation
ventricular blood volume unchanged. All 4 valves closed.
ejection fraction
percentage of blood pumped out of a full ventricle
end-diastolic volume
~130mL
Blood volume after atrial systole and ventricular diastole
at rest, cardiac output =
4-7 Litres/minute
Venous return
volume of blood returning to the heart from the vasuclature every minute (linked to CO)
cardiac reserve
difference between maximum cardiac output and cardiac output at rest
Frank-starling law of the heart
the more the heart fills with blood (during diastole), the more the ventricular myocytes stretch, and the greater the force of contraction (systole)
preload
- degree of stretch of the myocardial fibres, at the end of diastole, before they contract
- preload is proportional to end-diastolic volume (the greater the EDV, the more forceful the next contraction)
contractility
force of contraction, of ventricular myocytes, at any given preload
afterload
pressure that must be exceeded before ejection of blood from the ventricles can occur
a healthy heart pumps out all the blood that has entered its chambers during the previous diastole TRUE/FALSE
TRUE
draw a stroke volume loop
(check it on page 73)
two mechanisms by which stroke volume is regulated
- intrinsic regulation of the force of contraction - governed by the degree of stretch of the myocardial fibre (end of diastole)
- extrinsic regulation - determined by activity of autonomic nervous system and levels of certain hormones
increase in filling pressure leads to…
increase in end-diastolic volume and increase in stroke volume
work done by the heart
change in pressure x change in volume
area of the ‘pressure-volume loop’
how does pressure in the ventricle change during filling
pressure falls at first due to suction effects of relaxation, then it rises as the volume increases
how does a positive inotrope effect contractility?
increases force of contraction by promoting Ca2+ inflow
effect of the calcium store, in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, on the membrane potential of the myocyte
NO EFFECT
excitation is initiated by specialised cells in the _________ ______ which lies close to the point of entry of the ______ _______ into the _____ atrium. A ______ ___ ________ is then conducted throughout the myocardium of the _____. The cells of the ____ ____ have an _______ resting potential. Between successive APs there is a ______ ________ due to the slow ___ inflow. This is the _______. When _______ is reached (-40mV) an AP is triggered to initiate a ________.
excitation is initiated by specialised cells in the sinoatrial node which lies close to the point of entry of the vena cava into the right atrium. A wave of depolarisation is then conducted throughout the myocardium of the atria. The cells of the SA node have an unstable resting potential. Between successive APs there is a progressive depolarisation due to the spontaneous Na+ inflow. This is the pacemaker. When threshold is reached (-40mV) an AP is triggered to initiate a heartbeat.
what do the action potentials of the atria, ventricles and conducting system have in common?
fast initial upstroke followed by a plateau phase of depolarisation before repolarisation.
what causes the plateau phase?
inward movement of calcium ions through L-type Ca2+ channels
what is the importance of the long plateau phase?
- the action potential lasts almost as long as the contraction of the cell
- enough time for efficient contraction (if it was just a twitch that would be poor)
- ensures unidirectional excitation of the myocardium
when does repolarization of myocardial occur
when voltage-dependent calcium channels inactivate
AV node
slows the AP, which allows time for atrial systole
AV bundle/bundle of His
conducts from the AV node to the purkinje fibres i.e. carries the wave of depolarisation from the right atrium, through the insulating fibrous skeleton, to the ventricles
purkinje fibres
carry depolarisation through the ventricle walls
3 steps to an action potential in a ventricular contractile fibre
- Rapid depolarisation -
due to Na+ inflow when voltage-gated fast Na+ channels open - Plateau -
due to Ca2+ inflow when voltage-gated slow Ca2+ channels open and K+ outflow when some K+ channels open - repolarisation -
due to closure of Ca2+ channels and K+ outflow when additional voltage-gated K+ channels open
pressure [over]load
ventricle has to contract while experiencing increased afterload. Therefore, contractility must increase which will lead to ventricle hypertrophy
volume [over]load
too much blood in the ventricle which leads to increased preload
does cardiac myocyte depolarise spontaneously?
nuh bruv
ECG measures_________ activity not ________
ECG measures_electrical_ activity not contraction