Cardiovascular System

Question 1

What is the anatomical landmark for the BASE of the heart?

Answer 1

Superior border of the heart - at the right and left second intercostal space at the sternal border

Question 2

What is the anatomical landmark for the APEX of the heart?

Answer 2

Inferior border of the heart - in the fifth left intercostal space, 7-9cm to the midsternal line

Question 3

What are the four valves of the heart? What are the two categories?

Answer 3

Two atrioventricular valves that separate the atria from the ventricles
1. Tricuspid
2. Mitral

Two semilunar valves that separate the ventricles from the great vessels
3. Pulmonic
4. Aortic

Question 4

What are the three layers of the heart wall?

Answer 4

1. Epicardium (outer most layer)
2. Myocardium
3. Endocardium (inner most layer)

Question 5

What is the space that sits between the epicardium and the pericardium?

Answer 5

Pericardial space

Question 6

What are the 3 roles of the pericardium?

Answer 6

1. anchors the heart
2. helps limit ventricular dilation
3. protects the heart from infection and disease

Question 7

What is pericardial tamponade?

Answer 7

Fluid/blood accumulates in the pericardial sac, compressing the heart and leading to decreased CO and shock

Question 8

What is pericarditis? What happens to HR short term and long term?

Answer 8

Inflammation of the pericardium

Short term - HR will increase due to constriction of heart
Long term - HR will decrease due to heart exhaustion

Question 9

What is the function of the carotid arteries and jugular veins?

Answer 9

Carotid arteries bring oxygenated blood to the brain and head, while jugular veins take deoxygenated blood from the head back to the heart

Question 10

Describe diastole and systole

Answer 10

Diastole - heart muscles relax and allow chambers to fill with blood

Systole - ejection of blood into the aorta and pulmonary trunk - blood moves from the ventricles and eject blood to the lungs and body

Question 11

What are the four steps of electrical cardiac conduction?

Answer 11

1. SA node impulse generation
2. AV node impulse conduction
3. AV bundle impulse conduction
4. Purkinje fibers impulse conduction

Question 12

What is the largest artery in the body?

Answer 12

Aorta

Question 13

What makes the pulmonary vein different from other veins?

Answer 13

Rather than transporting deoxygenated blood, it transports oxygenated blood from the lungs to the atria

Question 14

What resting measures do not change with age?

Answer 14

HR and CO

Question 15

What part of BP increases and decreases with age?

Answer 15

Systolic pressure increases and diastolic decreases

Question 16

How do you check for a pulse deficit?

Answer 16

If you notice an irregularity upon auscultation, auscultate the apical beat while palpating the radial pulse