Cardiovascular System Flashcards
The conduction velocity of action potentials in the heart is reduced as they pass through which of the following structures?
the atrioventricular node
Most of the blood volume in the body is contained within which of the following?
Veins
The pressure in the heart when the ventricles are relaxed is known as which of the following?
diastolic pressure
Oxygenated blood passes through which of the following?
Pulmonary veins.
Pulmonary arteries.
Left atrium.
Pulmonary veins.
Left atrium.
Venous return to the heart is assisted by which of the following?
low resistance of veins
low pressure in the right atrium
valves in veins
the skeletal muscle pump
all
The second heart sound corresponds with which of the following mechanical events?
Closing of the aortic valve.
Closing of the tricuspid valve.
Closing of the pulmonary valve.
Closing of the aortic valve.
Closing of the pulmonary valve.
Which of the following best describes the function of the tricuspid valve?
it prevents backflow of blood between the right atrium and the pulmonary artery
it prevents backflow of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle
it prevents backflow of blood between the right atrium and right ventricle
it prevents backflow of blood between the right and left atria
it prevents backflow of blood in veins
it prevents backflow of blood between the right atrium and right ventricle
Which of the following statements about cardiac pacemaker cells is/are TRUE?
Their membrane potential does not plateau following depolarisation.
Their resting membrane potential is -90 mV.
Their resting membrane potential is not stable.
Their membrane potential does not plateau following depolarisation.
Their resting membrane potential is not stable.
The wave on the electrocardiogram that represents ventricular repolarisation alone is which of the following?
T
Which of the following will increase mean arterial blood pressure?
- Increased heart rate.
- Decreased stroke volume
- Increased vasoconstriction of the systemic arteries.
1 & 3
Why is haematocrit often low in patients with kidney disease?
because these patients do not produce sufficient erythropoietin
The stage of the cardiac cycle where the pressure is the greatest within the heart is which of the following?
the ventricular ejection phase
Which of the following is/are a function of arterioles?
The control mean arterial pressure.
The regulation of blood flow to different regions of the body.
The transport of blood to capillaries.
all
The first and second heart sounds represent which of the following (in order)?
closure of the atrioventricular valves and closure of the semilunar valves
What is the difference in resting membrane potential between cardiac muscle cells and pacemaker cells?
30mV
the functions of the cardiovascular system
Transport of materials around the body:
(i) Between external environment and cells
Oxygen from lungs to cells
Nutrients from digestive tract to cells
(ii) From cell to cell
Hormones from endocrine cells to target cells
Stored nutrients (e.g. liver) to cells
(iii) Between cells and external environment
Carbon dioxide from cells to lungs
Metabolic wastes from cells to kidneys
consequences of cardiovascular system failure
Loss of blood supply to brain:
5‐10 seconds – loss of consciousness
2‐3 minutes – brain damage
Know what the major component of the cardiovascular system are how they are related to each other.
(i) Blood Vessels (Vasculature)
System that transports the blood around the body.
(ii) Blood
Liquid tissue that carries all the substances being moved.
(iii) Heart
Two‐channelled pump responsible for the movement of the blood.
Right Pump – delivers deoxygenated blood to lungs
Left Pump – delivers oxygenated blood to rest of body
Understand what constitutes the pulmonary and systemic circulations.
(i) Pulmonary Circulation
Vessels that connect heart to lungs
- Takes deoxygenated blood from the right hand side of the heart and is transported through the pulmonary artery to the capillaries where we get gas exchange and the oxygenated blood is transported back through the pulmonary arteries and returned to the left hand side of the heart
(ii) Systemic Circulation
Vessels that connect heart to other tissues
- Made up of a large number of circuits
- Oxygenated blood leaves the left hand side of the heart, flows out through arterial system which branches extensively to form capillary networks which provide blood supply to individual cells and systems
- Blood is then collected from those capillaries and transported back to the right hand side of the heart
Be familiar with the macroscopic structure differences between the major types of blood vessels.
Arteries
Arterioles
Capillaries
Venules
Veins
Be familiar with the microscopic structure differences of the major types of blood vessels.
(i) Tunica Intima
Endothelium - single layer flat epithelial cells
Internal Elastic Lamina - connective tissue with elastic fibre
(ii) Tunica Media
Smooth Muscle
External Elastic Lamina
(iii) Tunica Externa
Connective Tissue
Vaso vasorum - small blood supply to walls of arteries and veins
Relative thickness of these layers varies
Be able to describe the different functions of blood.
(i) Distribution
Gases
Metabolic Wastes
Hormones
(ii) Regulation
Body temperature
pH
Fluid Volume
(iii) Protection
Preventing blood loss
Fighting infection
Understand that blood is made up of both plasma and formed elements and know the components of each of these.
Viscous, opaque, liquid
~5.5 litres
~ 8% body weight
Liquid tissue so contains both cells and fluid components:
(i) Plasma
~3 litres liquid:
Water
Ions, proteins, nutrients, wastes, gases
(ii) Formed elements
~2.5 litres cells and cell fragments:
Erythrocytes
Leucocytes
Platelets
Haematocrit (or packed cell volume (PCV)):
% blood volume made up of red blood cells
45% males
42% females
Understand how vessel length, vessel radius and blood viscosity impact on blood flow and why.
Vessel length:
longer vessel - greater resistance
Vessel radius:
- because of laminar flow & cell - wall collisions: flow slower near vessel wall and faster near centre
- smaller vessel (vasoconstriction)- greater resistance - slower flow
- larger vessel (vasodilation)- less resistance - faster flow
- small changes in radius -> large change in flow
- vessels get smaller as they get further away from the heart
Viscosity:
- blood is 5 x more viscous than water
- caused by friction between: formed elements, proteins and liquid
- flow rate :
increase viscosity -> increase resistance -> decrease flow
decrease viscosity -> decrease resistance -> increase flow
- haematocrit affects viscosity:
increase erythrocytes -> increase haematocrit -> decrease flow
decrease plasma -> increase haematocrit -> decrease flow
how is haematocrit altered
(a) Erythropoietin (EPO)
Hormone secreted by kidney
In response to hypoxia
Stimulates erythrocyte production
(b) Recombinant EPO
Dramatically ↑ erythrocyte production
Improves athletic performance
↑ erythrocyte + ↓ plasma → ↑ haematocrit (Ht)
Stroke or heart failure
In 2003‐2004 ‐ 8 young elite cyclists died in 13 months
(c) Blood Doping
Collect own blood and store
Retranfuse when needed
2006 Tour De France ‘Operation Puerto’
(d) Polycythaemia vera
Red blood cell disease
Excessive red blood cells
Know who Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille was, where and when he died as well as the equation that he is famous for.
French physician who died in 1869.
Equation allows calculation of flow rate (assuming laminar flow):
F = pressure gradient x (pie x radius cubed)/ (8 x viscosity x length of vessel)
Be familiar with the macroscopic structure of the heart, its chambers, valves and blood supply.
Chambers:
Atria Ventricles - left ventricle wall thicker than right
Valves:
Atrioventricular valves - left AV value (Bicuspid or Mitral) and right AV valve (Tricuspid)
Semilunar valves - pulmonary (towards lungs) & aorta