Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Define Apical pulse.
The apical pulse is a pulse site on the left side of the chest over the pointed end, or apex, of the heart. Doctors find that taking the apical pulse is the most accurate, noninvasive way of assessing cardiac health.
What are the steps for finding the apical pulse?
- Explain procedure and gain consent. 2. Ask the client to get changed in a hospital gown. (Ensure privacy). 3. Gather stethoscope. 4. Position patient and inspect the anterior chest 5. Use a systematic palpation of landmarks to find the apical pulsation. 6. auscultate this pulsation using the diaphragm of a stethoscope. 7. Count this for 60 seconds and record.
What are you inspecting for on the anterior chest?
Shape, Symmetry, Appearance, colour, landmarks, and apical pulsations)
Define auscultate
examine a patient by listening to sounds from (the heart, lungs, or other organs), typically using a stethoscope.
How do you record the apical pulse?
The same as recording the radial pulse but draw a small a next to this.
What is involved in a cardiovascular system assessment?
Auscultation of the apical pulse, Completing a peripheral Vascular assessment, and explaining the difference between S1 and S2 sounds.
What is an S1 sound?
The first heart sound (S1) represents closure of the atrioventricular (mitral and tricuspid) valves as the ventricular pressures exceed atrial pressures at the beginning of systole.
What are all the valves of the heart?
tricuspid valve: located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
pulmonary valve: located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
mitral valve: located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
aortic valve: located between the left ventricle and the aorta.
What is an S2 sound?
The second heart sound (S2) represents closure of the semilunar (aortic and pulmonary) valves
Define systolic.
relating to the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries
Define diastolic.
relating to the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood.
What are atrioventricular valves?
The atrioventricular valves are those that connect the atrium to the ventricles and include the mitral valve as well as the tricuspid valve
What is the SA node?
The SA node (called the pacemaker of the heart) sends out an electrical impulse.
What is the atrium?
The atrium is the upper chamber through which blood enters the ventricles of the heart.
What are the landmarks in order that we use to find the apical pulsation?
Suprasternal notch, angle of louis, 2nd left intercostal space, 3rd left intercostal space, 4th left intercostal space, 5th left intercostal space, mid clavicular line