Cardiovascular System Flashcards
Name three healthcare associated infections
Methicillin resistant Staph aureus (MRSA)
Clostridium difficille
Norovirus
When taking blood pressure measurement what does the top and lower number represent?
Top number is systolic blood pressure – the maximum pressure. This occurs during ventricular contraction.
Bottom number is diastolic BP – the lowest pressure. This occurs during ventricular relaxation.
Unstable angina is a medical emergency. True or false
True
Name four things you can do to reduce your risk of contracting an infection via a sharps injury
Use equipment with in-built safety features such as a cannula with a sheath that forms over the needle when withdrawn.
Use a sharps bin – take it to the place where you are doing the procedure.
Wear gloves.
Don’t over-fill the sharps bin (2/3 marker line).
Follow appropriate procedure if an injury occurs.
What are the features of an arterial foot ulcer?
“Punched out” appearance Smooth edges Usually lateral aspect of foot Reduced or absent foot pulses Lack of leg hair
Troponin C is a protein that is specifically released from myocardial muscle. True or false.
False - Troponin T and troponin I are specific to myocardial muscle.
Name a possible complication of myocardial infarction
Heart failure Pericarditis Rupture of valve papillary muscles Arrhythmia Death
A patient with an arterial-brachial pressure index of 0.5 indicates peripheral vascular disease. True or false
True (any value <0.9)
Name two causes of secondary hypertension
Hyperthyroidism
Cushing’s syndrome (elevated cortisol)
Phaeochromocytoma
Renal artery stenosis
20% of hypertension is classified as “secondary hypertension”. True or false
False - 5%
Which ribs are true ribs, and which are false? Which are the floating ribs?
True ribs = I-VII
False ribs = VIII-XII
Floating ribs = XI and XII
What are the three bones of the thoracic cage?
Sternum
Clavicle
Scapula
What is the name of the joint between the sternum and the clavicle?
Sternoclavicular joint
What is the name of the joint between the scapula and the clavicle?
Acromioclavicular joint
What are the three parts of the sternum?
Manubrium
Body
Xiphoid Process
Where is the jugular notch located?
On the upper border of the manubrium
What are the different divisions and sub-divisions of the mediastinum?
Superior Inferior Anterior Middle Posterior
What separates the inferior and superior mediastinum, and what plane is this found?
Sternal angle – transverse plane
What branch/branches arise from the right coronary artery?
Posterior interventricular branch
What branch/branches arise from the left coronary artery?
Circumflex branch
Anterior interventricular branch
What does right dominancy refer to in the heart?
The posterior interventricular branch arises from the right coronary artery, not the left.
What does the autonomic nervous system do to heart rate?
Sympathetic – speeds up the rate of contraction – speeding up heart rate.
Parasympathetic – slows down the rate of contraction – slowing heart rate.
What are the three branches of the aortic arch?
Brachiocephalic trunk – Right common carotid and right subclavian
Left common carotid
Left subclavian
At what vertebral level does the descending thoracic aorta pass through the diaphragm?
T12
At what vertebral level does the oesophagus pass through the diaphragm?
T10
At what vertebral level does the inferior vena cava pass through the diaphragm?
T8
Where must you position a stethoscope to hear the heart valve sounds?
Downstream from the flow of blood flowing through the valves.
Which valve would you hear at the medial end of the right second intercostal space?
Aortic valve
Which valve would you hear at the medial end of the left second intercostal space?
Pulmonary valve
At which position would you auscultate the mitral valve?
Left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line
At which position would you auscultate the tricuspid valve?
Left of the lower part of the sternum, near the fifth intercostal space
What is pericardial effusion? What can this cause?
Compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac. Cardiac Tamponade.
What is the name of the string-like structures attached to the tricuspid and mitral valves? What do they do?
Chordae tendineae. These anchor the valves to prevent them from inverting.
What is HCAI?
Healthcare Associated Infections. An infection because of direct contact with the healthcare system, symptoms of which usually develop after 48 hours of admission to hospital.
What are the golden rules of physical examination?
Introduce yourself Confirm patient’s identity Consent for procedure(s) Wash your hands Stand to patient’s right Make sure patient is comfortable Explain each step
What is the term for an individual finding breathing difficult?
Dyspnoea
What is the term for the cessation of breathing?
Apnoea
What is the term for respiratory rates less than the normal range?
Bradypnoea
Which locations can you check for a patient’s pulse?
Carotid – neck Brachial – arm Radial – arm Ulna – wrist Femoral – groin Popliteal – behind knee Dorsalis pedis – ankle Posterior tibial – foot
What is the term for heart rates higher than the normal range?
Tachycardia
What is the term for heart rates less than the normal range?
Bradycardia
What is the name of the joint between the manubrium and sternal body?
Manubriosternal joint
Which part of the spine is the bifurcation of the trachea?
T4-T5
What is CABG?
Coronary artery bypass graft
Which vessels can be harvested for use in CABG?
Saphenous vein
Radial artery
Internal thoracic artery
What is Cranial Nerve X known as?
The vagus nerve
What is the function of the vagus nerve?
Provides parasympathetic innervation to the thoracic viscera and carries visceral afferents from the viscera.
Where is the right vagus nerve?
Enters the superior mediastinum between the brachiocephalic vein and the brachiocephalic trunk, and passes posterior to the lung root.
Where is the left vagus nerve?
Enters the superior mediastinum posterior to the left brachiocephalic vein and between the left common carotid and left subclavian veins.
Where does the phrenic nerve arise and what is its function?
C3, C4 and C5. Supplies the central component of the diaphragm for respiration.
What are the layers of the pericardium?
Fibrous pericardium – Strong fibrous layer
Serous pericardium :–
Parietal layer – lines fibrous pericardium
Visceral layer (epicardium) – lines the heart
Space between is the pericardial cavity
What are the cardiac veins and where are they located?
Great – Found along the anterior atrioventricular groove
Middle – Found along the posterior atrioventricular groove
Small – Runs between the right atrium and ventricle
What are the three layers of a blood vessel wall?
Endothelium – protects the vessel
Smooth muscle – allows contraction and dilation
Connective tissue – Separates vessel from surrounding tissue
