Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are erythrocytes?
Red blood cells
What is the role of erythrocytes?
To transfer oxygen to tissues
What makes red blood cells red?
Haemoglobin
What is the role of white blood cells?
Protection against infection and immunity
What does plasma mainly consist of
Water
What is the role of plasma?
To carry ions and proteins, to keep things flowing
Approximately what percentage of blood is plasma?
55%
Approximately what percentage of blood is cellular elements?
45%
What is the role of blood electrolytes (ions)
Osmotic balance, pH buffering and regulation of membrane permeability
Give 3 ions found in the plasma
Sodium, potassium, calcium
Give 2 examples of plasma proteins and their roles
Albumin = osmotic balance Fibrinogen = clotting
What is the role of platelets?
Blood clotting
Give 2 examples of white blood cells
Lymphocytes and neutrophils
Where do arteries take blood to?
Brain and body
Where do veins take blood to?
Heart and lungs
What do veins have that arteries don’t and why?
Valves since they have to flow against gravity and so need to be able to stop back flow
Why is arteries veins and capillaries having thin walls beneficial?
Easier exchange of oxygen and nutrients to target tissues
What is the layer between smooth muscle and blood flow?
Endothelium
Most blood vessels don’t have any direct affect on smooth muscles in the parasympathetic pathway, what is the exception?
Coronary vessels
What is the indirect pathway for the activation of smooth muscles surrounding most blood vessels?
Endothelial cells (next to smooth muscles) contain receptors (typically M3) which when activated leads to the synthesis of NO. This diffuses to the smooth muscle cells causing relaxation (vasodilation) (via increase cGMP).
What happens in the pulmonary loop?
Deoxygenated blood flows via the pulmonary artery to be oxygenated and exits via the pulmonary vein
Outline the stages of blood flow through the heart
D.O blood from the body enters through the right atrium. It then enters the right ventricle and exits through the right ventricle via the pulmonary artery to the lungs. O. blood enters from the lungs through the left atrium and is sent to the rest of the body through the left ventricle via the aorta.
Why is the left ventricle more muscular?
It has to pump the blood to the rest of the body
What is venous blood?
deoxygenated blood
What part of the heart is responsible for the heart rate?
SA node
What is the SA node and where is it located?
A cluster of neuronal-like cells responsible for the heart rate found in the right atrium
How does the SA node control heart rate?
The SA node produces a signal which causes the atria to contract. This signal then travels down specialised bundles of conductive fibres to the AV node. The AV node creates an action potential which coordinates the contraction through the ventricles
Why is the delay between the atria and ventricles contracting important?
So that blood can flow nicely between the 2
On an ECG/EKG track, what do the 3 peaks represent per heart beat?
- Activation of atria
- Activation of ventricles
- Recovery of ventricles
What are HCN channels?
Hyperpolarisation-activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Channels
How do SA and AV nodes release a signal/ action potential?
The opening of HCN channels results in slow depolarisation of the SA node and influx of Na+. T-type Ca2+ channels open allowing an influx of Ca2+ ions. Once the polarisation of the cells reach the threshold, rapid depolarisation (action potential) occurs as a result of L-type Ca2+ channels opening. HCN channels close. The K+ channels then open, polarising the cells due to an efflux of K+. The HCN channels then open.
When do HCN channels open?
If the nodes are very negative (polarised)
What part of the nervous system control the rate at which the HCN channels open?
Autonomic nervous system
How do signals travel through the ventricles and atria?
Contractile cells begin at resting membrane potential. The signal from the nodes arrive resulting in rapid depolarisation due to the opening of Na+ channels which allow an influx of Na+. Ca2+ channels also open = influx of Ca2+. The Na+ channels are then deactivated and the cells slowly repolarise as well as the opening of K+ channels allowing K+ efflux. The Ca2+ channels are still open and so prevents rapid polarisation. The Ca2+ channels then close resulting in polarisation of cells to its resting potential
What voltage is the threshold for the rapid depolarisation of node cells?
-30 mV