cardiovascular principles Flashcards
how is a regular spontanous action potential generated in the SA node
- the spontaneous pacemaker potential takes the membrane potential to a threshold
- every time the threshold is reached an action potential is generated
what is vagal tone
- the vagus nerve (parasympathetic supply to the heart) exerts a continuous influence of the SA node under resting conditions.
- vagal tone dominates under resting conditions
- the vagal tone slows the intrinsic heart rate from 100bpm to produce a normal resting heart rate of 70bpm
what is the normal resting heart rate and what is the term for a heart rate above it and below it
- 60-100bpm
- tachycardia = resting heart rate above 100bpm
- bradycardia = resting heart rate below 60bpm
what effect does the vagal stimulation have on the SA and AV node
- Slowed rate of firing from the SA node
- Increase in AV nodal delay
what are the phases of ventricular muscle action potential
0 = fast Na2+ influx 1 = closure of Na2+ channels and transient K+ efflux 2 = mainly Ca2+ influx 3 = closure of Ca2+ channels and K+ efflux 4 = resting membrane potential
what are the standard limb leads
- lead 1 = RA-LA
- lead 2 = RA-LL
- lead 3 = LA-LL
what does the P wave show
atrial depolarisation
what does the QRS complex show
ventricular depolarisation
what does the T wave show
ventricular repolarisation
what does the PR interval show
largely AV node delay
what does the ST segment show
represents the interval between ventricular depolarization and repolarization.
what does the TP interval show
diastole
what is the refractory period on an ECG
the period following an action potential in which it isn’t possible to produce another action potential
how are the cardiac monocytes electrically coupled
gap junctions - these protein channels form low resistance electrical communication pathways between neighbouring monocytes
what provides mechanical adhesion between cardiac cells
desmosomes - they ensure that the tension developed by one cell is transmitted to the next
what produced muscle tension
sliding of actin filaments on myosin filaments
define stroke volume
the volume of blood ejected by each ventricle per heart beat
-SV=EDV(end diastolic volume)-ESV(end systolic volume)
what affects the stroke volume
- Cardiac preload
- Cardiac afterload
- Myocardial contractibility
what is blood pressure
the outwards hydrostatic pressure exerted by the blood on the blood vessels
what is the ideal blood pressure for an adult under 80 yrs
120/80 to 90/60mmHg
what bp is hypertension
140/90mmHg and day time average of 135/85mmHg
what is pulse pressure
difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures
- normally between 30 and 50 mmHg
what is the mean arterial blood pressure
the average arterial blood pressure during a single cardiac cycle which involves contraction and relaxation of the heart
- MAP = [(2X diastolic) + systolic] divided by 3
- MAP = CO X SVR
- a MAP of at least 60mmHg is needed to perfuse vital organs like the brain, heart and kidneys
what factors can change the mean arterial blood pressure
- heart rate
- stroke volume
- systemic vascular resistance
what do baroreceptors respond to
acute changes in arterial blood pressure
- baroreceptor firing decreases if high arterial blood pressure is sustained
what hormones regulate extracellular fluid volume
- the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS)
- natriuretic peptides
- antidiuretic hormone
where is renin released
Juxtaglomelular apparels in the kidneys
what are natriuretic peptides
- released in response to cardiac distension
- cause excretion of salt and water in the kidneys,
- reduce blood volume and blood pressure
- decrease renin release and hence decrease blood pressure
- act as vasodilators, decrease SVR and blood pressure
- they are a counter regulatory system for RAAS
what is shock
an abnormality of the circulatory system resulting in inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation
what causes hypovolaemic shock
caused by loss of blood volume
what causes cariogenic shock
caused by sudden severe impairment of cardiac function - heart suddenly unable to pump sufficient blood to provide adequate tissue perfusion
what causes obstructive shock
caused by physical obstruction to circulation either into or out of the heart
what causes distributive shock
caused by excessive vasodilation and abnormal distribution of blood flow
what is the cardiac cycle
all events that occur from the beginning of one heart beat to the beginning of the next
how long is diastole and systole at a heart rate of 75bpm
diastole = 0.5 seconds systole = 0.3 seconds
what are the events during the cardiac cycle
1 = passive filling 2 = atrial contraction 3 = isovolumetric ventricular contraction 4 = ventricular ejection 5 = isovolumetric ventricular relaxation
explain passive filling in the cardiac cycle
- pressure in atria and ventricles at 0
- AV valves open
- aortic valve is closed
- ventricles become 80% passively filled
explain atrial contraction of the cardiac cycle
- P wave of ECG signals atrial depolarisation
- the atria contracts between the P wave and the QRS complex
- atrial contraction complete the end diastolic volume
explain isovolumetric ventricular contraction of the cardiac cycle
- starts after QRS complex
- ventricular pressure rises
- when the ventricular pressure exceed atrial pressure the AV valves shut = first heart sound (Lub)
- the tension rises around a closed volume “isovolumetric contraction”
explain ventricular ejection of the cardiac cycle
- when ventricular pressure exceeds the aortic/pulmonary pressure the valves open
- stroke volume is ejected
- T wave signals ventricular depolarisation
- the ventricular pressure will start to fall and will fall below the aortic/pulmonary pressure so they shut = second heart sound (dub)
- the valve vibration produces the dicrotic notch in aortic pressure curve
explain isovolumetric ventricular relaxation in the cardiac cycle
- closure or aortic/pulmonary valves signals the start of isovolumetric ventricular relaxation
- ventricle becomes a closed box
- when the ventricular pressure falls below atrial pressure, AV valves open
what causes the S1 heart sound
- closure of metric and tricuspid valves = Lub
- beginning if systole
- occurs during isovolumetric contraction
what causes the S2 heart sound
- closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves
- occurs ding isovolumetric relaxation
what causes the S3 heart sound
- early ventricular filling
- normal in children but in adults is associated by ventricular dilation
what causes the S4 heart sound
- atrial contraction
- associated with stiff, low compliant ventricle ie ventricular hypertrophy
what are the 4 cardiac auscultation points to auscultate the heart valves
- aortic area = 2nd right intercostal space beside the right sternum
- pulmonary area = left side in the 2nd intercostal space
- tricuspid area = 4th intercostal space
- mitral area = 5th intercostal space on the mid clavicular line
the estimation of jugular venous pressure is an indirect estimate of what
right atrial pressure
- normally JVP is no more than 3cm vertically above the sternal angle
- an elevated JVP is a sign of heart failure
what occurs when adrenaline acts on alpha receptors
vasoconstriction
what occurs when adrenaline acts on beta 2 receptors
vasodilation
what does angiotensin II cause in relation to vascular smooth muscle
vasoconstriction