Cardiovascular System Flashcards

1
Q

What position are patients examined when doing a cardiovascular examination?

A

45 degrees and exposed from the waist upwards

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2
Q

Where can the radial artery be palpated?

A

Between the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis and the tendon of the brachiradialis

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3
Q

What does the radial pulse suggest?

A

Rate and Rhythm

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4
Q

What pulse rate indicates bradycardia?

A

<60bpm

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5
Q

What pulse rate indicates tachycardia?

A

> 100bpm

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6
Q

How is the radial pulse palpated?

A

Count the pulses within the 30 seconds and multiply by a factor of 2.

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7
Q

Where is the ulnar artery palpated?

A

Lies between the flexor digitorum superficialis and the flexor carpi ulnaris

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8
Q

Which two positions can the brachial artery be palpated?

A

1) Brachial artery medial the bicep’s tendon (medial to the antecubital fossa)
2) middle third of the humerus in the medial bicipital groove.
- Ensure that the elbow joint is fully extended

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9
Q

What position is the elbow in when palpating the brachial artery?

A

Fully extended.

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10
Q

Where is the common carotid artery palpated?

A

1) Medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle

2) Lateral border of the thyroid cartilage

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11
Q

What does the carotid pulse give?

A

Character and volume can only be detected from the central arteries.

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12
Q

Where is the apex beat palpated?

A

5th intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line.

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13
Q

How is the apex beat palpated?

A

Start palpating from the lateral side (near the mid axillary line) - anterior towards the mid-clavicular line

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14
Q

A patient with cardiomegaly will exhibit what type of apex beat when palpated?

A

Displaced apex beat

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15
Q

What is the range of a normal pulse rate?

A

60-100bpm

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16
Q

What are the units for a pulse rate?

A

Beats per minute

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17
Q

Give 4 pathological causes of an absent apex beat in the 5th intercostal space MCL?

A

Pericardial effusion
Pleura effusion
Obesity
Emphysema

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18
Q

Demonstrate how you will palpate a heave

A

Place the heel of your hand parallel to the left sternal edge of palpate for heaves.

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19
Q

How is a heave detected/felt, once palpated?

A

The heel of your hand is lifted with each systole

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20
Q

Parasternal heaves are associated with what type of pathology?

A

Right ventricular hypertrophy

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21
Q

Demonstrate how you will palpate a thrill

A

Assess the thrill across each of the heart valves

Place hand horizontally across the chest wall, with the flats of your fingers and palm over the valve to be assessed.

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22
Q

What is a thrill?

A

A thrill is a palpable vibration caused by turbulent flow through a heart valve

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23
Q

What is a heave?

A

A parasternal heave is a precordial impulse that can be palpated

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24
Q

Name all four heart valves

A

Pulmonary
Tricuspid
Mitral
Aortic

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25
Q

Where is the aortic valve auscultated?

A

Right sternal border in the 2nd intercostal space

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26
Q

Where is the pulmonary valve auscultated?

A

Left sternal border in the 2nd intercostal space

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27
Q

Where is the tricuspid valve auscultated?

A

Left 5th costo-sternal border

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28
Q

Where is the mitral valve auscultated?

A

Left 5th intercostal space at the apex beat

-Use the Bell of the stethoscope

29
Q

What are the 5 pathological causes of an ejection systolic murmur?

A
Aortic stenosis
Pulmonary stenosis
Aortic sclerosis
Atrial septal defect
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
30
Q

How can aortic stenosis be detected on auscultation?

A

Auscultate the carotid arteries using the diaphragm whilst the patient holds their breath

31
Q

Where is aortic stenosis accentuated?

A

Carotid arteries

32
Q

How can aortic regurgitation be accentuated?

A

Inform the patient to lean forwards, and auscultate of the aortic area with the diaphragm during expiration

33
Q

What type of murmur is associated with aortic stenosis?

A

Ejection systolic murmur

34
Q

In what position should patients be in when assessing for mitral valve pathologies (stenosis/regurgitation)?

A

Left lateral decubitus position

35
Q

What should the patient be doing when accentuating the auscultation for aortic stenosis?

A

Holding their breath

36
Q

What type of murmur is associated with aortic regurgitation?

A

Early diastolic murmur

37
Q

What type of murmur is associated with mitral valve regurgitation?

A

Pan-systolic murmur during expiration

38
Q

Where is mitral valve regurgitation detected?

A

Left lateral decubitus position, mitral area

39
Q

When palpating for mitral valve regurgitation, where does the murmur radiate to?

A

Radiates into the axilla

40
Q

Which type of valvular defect is associated with murmur radiation into axilla?

A

Mitral valve regurgitation

41
Q

A pan-systolic murmur is associated with which type of valvular defect?

A

Mitral valve regurgitation

42
Q

In what position should the patient be in when detecting for aortic regurgitation?

A

The patient should lean forwards

43
Q

What part of the stethoscope should be used when palpating for mitral stenosis?

A

The bell

44
Q

What type of murmur is associated with mitral valve stenosis?

A

Mid-diastolic murmur

45
Q

A mid-diastolic murmur is associated with which type of valvular defect?

A

Mitral valve stenosis

46
Q

When is the pan-systolic murmur heard in mitral valve regurgitation?

A

Expiration

47
Q

What are the four areas of pulse palpation in the lower limb?

A

1) Femoral artery
2) Popliteal artery
3) Dorsalis pedis artery
4) Posterior tibial artery

48
Q

At which point should the femoral pulse be palpated?

A

The mid-inguinal point

49
Q

Where is the mid-inguinal point?

A

The midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis

50
Q

Where can the popliteal pulse be palpated?

A

Inferior region of the popliteal fossa

51
Q

How is the popliteal pulse palpated?

A

Place thumbs on the tibial tuberosity
Passively flex the knee to 30 degrees
Curl fingers into the popliteal fossa - compress the popliteal artery against the tibia

52
Q

Where can the posterior tibial pulse be palpated?

A

Posterior to the medial malleolus of the tibia

53
Q

Where can the dorsalis pedis pulse be palpated?

A

Located on the dorsum of the foot, lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon, over the second and third cuneiform bones

54
Q

Describe the right upper border of the heart

A

3rd Costal cartilage, 1cm from the sternal angle

55
Q

Describe the right lower border of the heart

A

6th costal cartilage 1cm from the sternal border

56
Q

Describe the right border of the heart

A

3rd to 6th costal cartilage 1cm from the sternal border

57
Q

Describe the left upper border of the heart

A

2nd ICS, 2.5cm from the sternal angle

58
Q

Describe the left lower border of the heart

A

5th ICS, mid-clavicular space

59
Q

What are the three pulses palpated in the head and neck?

A

1) Carotid artery
2) Superficial temporal artery
3) Subclavian artery

60
Q

Where is the carotid artery palpated?

A

Palpated in the neck between the lateral side of the thyroid cartilage, and medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle

61
Q

Which is the strongest pulse used to assess character and volume?

A

Carotid pulse

62
Q

Where is the superficial temporal artery pulse palpated?

A

Palpated in front of the tragus of the ear

63
Q

Which pulse can be felt, anterior to the tragus of the ear?

A

Superficial temporal artery pulse

64
Q

Where is the subclavian artery palpated?

A

Can be palpated in the supraclavicular fossa region, the angle between the clavicle and sternocleidomastoid

65
Q

Which dissection is associated with severe chest pain, anterior and posterior?

A

Type A aortic dissection

66
Q

A type B aortic dissection is associated with what type of pain radiation?

A

Back pain, followed by chest and abdominal pain

67
Q

Describe the surface markings for the arch of the aorta

A

· Beginning of the arch (from ascending aorta) at the level of right 2nd CC · End of the arch (becomes thoracic aorta) at the level of left 2nd CC.

Top of the arch in between the sternal angle and jugular notch

Sternal angle (T4/T5)

68
Q

What are the major branches from the aortic arch?

A

Brachiocephalic artery
Left common carotid
Left subclavian artery

69
Q

Describe and demonstrate the surface markings for the right common carotid artery

A

Right sternoclavicular joint to the lobe of the right ear

Inform the patient to turn their head to the left side.