cardiovascular system

Question 1

What is the function of the cardiovascular system? What are its two components?

Answer 1

The function of the cardiovascular system is to transport O2 and nutrients to the tissues and CO2 and waste from the tissues. The two main components of the cardiovascular system are the heart-pump and blood vessel tubes.

Question 2

What is the difference between systemic and pulmonary circulation? What is the difference between pulmonary and systemic arteries/veins?

Answer 2

Systemic circulation moves blood to the body while pulmonary circulation moves blood to the lungs. Systemic arteries carry oxygenated blood while pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood.

Question 3

Describe the chambers and major blood vessels of the heart

Answer 3

The chambers of the heart are the right ventricle, left ventricle, left atrium and right atrium. Blood enters the right atrium and goes through the right ventricle where it pumps blood into the lungs. The oxygenated blood is brought back to the hearth through the pulmonary arteries into the left atrium.

Question 4

What are the structural and functional differences between arteries, veins, and capillaries?

Answer 4

Arteries transport blood away from the heart while veins transport blood to the heart. Arteries carry oxygenated blood while veins carry deoxygenated blood. Arteries do not have valves while veins do have valves. Arteries are thick muscular layers, veins are thin muscular layers and capillaries are one cell layer thick that transport gases, nutrients and waste.

Question 5

What is the normal range for blood pressure according to the American Heart Association?

Answer 5

The normal range for blood pressure is less than 120/80.

Question 6

What can chronic hypertension lead to?

Answer 6

Chronic hypertension can lead to stroke, heart failure, erectile dysfunction, vision loss, heart attack or kidney disease/failure.

Question 7

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 7

Atherosclerosis is the abnormal condition of fatty plaque hardening.

Question 8

What is a thrombus? How does it develop?

Answer 8

Thrombus is a blood clot that can develop if a vessel is ruptured by plaque.

Question 9

What is an embolus? Why is an embolus harmful?

Answer 9

Embolus is when a piece of a blood clot breaks off and travels until it gets stuck in a smaller vessel, this is harmful cause it can lead to a stroke of heart attack.

Question 10

What are coronary arteries? What is coronary heart (artery) disease?

Answer 10

Coronary arteries are arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.

Question 11

What is angina? What causes it?

Answer 11

Angina is chest pain caused by the heart muscle lacking oxygen.

Question 12

What is a myocardial infarction? What causes it?

Answer 12

A myocardial infarction is a heart attack. It is caused by the coronary artery being blocked by either
atherosclerosis/thrombus or embolus.

Question 13

What is a stroke? What are the two different types of strokes?

Answer 13

A stroke is a cerebrovascular accident. The two types are hemorrhagic meaning rupture of weakened/dilated blood vessel and ischemic meaning the area of tissue isn’t getting oxygen or nutrients due to lack of blood.

Question 14

How does an angioplasty help treat atherosclerosis?

Answer 14

An angioplasty helps treat atherosclerosis by widening and holding open the narrowed portion of the blood vessel.

Question 15

What are the two different types of valves in the heart? What chambers or blood vessels are they between?

Answer 15

The two different types of valves in the heart are atrioventricular valves and semilunar valves they are between the left and right ventricles.

Question 16

What are the two phases of the heartbeat? Is the heart muscle contracted or relaxed in each of these phases? Are the valves open or closed in each of these phases?

Answer 16

The two phases of the heartbeat are diastole and systole. In the diastole phase the heart muscle is relaxed and the AV valves are open and semilunar valves are closed. In systole phase, the heart is contracted, and the AV valves are closed, and semilunar valves are open.

Question 17

What structure makes the first (lub) heart sound? What structure makes the second
(dub) heart sound?

Answer 17

The AV valves closing make the “lub” sound and the semilunar
valves closing make the “dub” sound.

Question 18

What is a heart murmur? What does a heart murmur indicate?

Answer 18

A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound, it is the sound of blood flowing through the heart and may indicate a heart problem.

Question 19

What does the heart conduction system do? What type of cells make up the heart conduction system? What structure is the “pacemaker” of the heart?

Answer 19

The heart conduction system generates/conducts electrical impulses. The “pacemaker” of the heart is the sinoatrial node.

Question 20

What is an arrhythmia? What is the difference between bradycardia and tachycardia?

Answer 20

An arrhythmia is abnormal heartbeat. Tachycardia is a fast heartbeat while bradycardia is a slow heartbeat.

Question 21

What is a cardiac arrest? What might cause a cardiac arrest?

Answer 21

Cardiac arrest is the heartbeat stopping caused by arrythmia.

Question 22

Explain the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack.

Answer 22

Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem such as arrhythmia while a heart attack is a circulation problem such as a blocked artery.

Question 23

What is the difference between an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram

Answer 23

An electrocardiogram shows the hearts electrical activity while an echocardiogram shows the repeated sound of the heart.

Question 24

What is congestive heart failure? What might cause congestive heart failure? How can you tell if your patient is suffering from congestive heart failure?

Answer 24

Congestive heart failure is fluid build-up around the lungs and is mainly caused by hypertension but also arrythmia. You can tell if someone is suffering from congestive heart failure because they have abdominal swelling, ankle/leg swelling and a weak heartbeat.