Cardiovascular System

Question 1

Layers of the heart

Answer 1

Pericardium- protective outer sac layer, pericardial fluid (2 layers)
Epicardium- visceral layer of serous pericardium
Myocardium- middle layer, largest portion of heart wall, contains contractile fibres/conduction system/blood supply, site of MI
Endocardium- innermost layer, smooth muscle, lines valves/ inner chambers of heart

Question 2

Where is the tricuspid valve?

Answer 2

Right atrioventricular valve

Question 3

Mitral valve location?

Answer 3

Left atrioventricular valve

Question 4

Electrical pathway of heart

Answer 4

SA node- AV node- bundle of his- bundle branches- purkinje fibres

Question 5

What heart sounds are you listening for ?

Answer 5

Lub, dub
Lub= atrioventricular valve closing
Dub= semilunar valve closing

Question 6

Stroke volume?

Answer 6

Volume of blood pumped by each ventricle in 1 contraction
(Approx 70ml)

Question 7

Cardiac output

Answer 7

Amount of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute
Stroke volume X Heart rate

Question 8

Aetiology/ causes of cardiovascular conditions

Answer 8

Genetics
Age
Smoking
Exercise
Drug/alcohol use
Hypertension
Stress
Type 2 diabetes
MI/ ischaemia
Chest trauma/ injury
Infection

Question 9

Atherosclerosis

Answer 9

Build up of plaque/fat/lipids in arteries (atheroma)
Reduced blood flow
Harden over time, pierce artery wall and reduce elasticity, scar tissue formed
Increases blood pressure
Possible plaque rupture/thrombosis

Question 10

Consequences of atherosclerosis

Answer 10

Ischaemia due to narrowed blood vessel
Complete occlusion= infarction
Blood vessels rupture

Question 11

Congestive heart failure

Answer 11

Later stage of heart failure- weak pump function of ventricles due to thickening/smaller filling capacity
(Congestion of fluid in body due to poor circulation)

Question 12

Preload

Answer 12

Volume of blood in ventricles at the end of diastole

Question 13

After load

Answer 13

Resistance the left ventricle must overcome to circulate blood

Question 14

Symptoms of heart failure

Answer 14

Peripheral oedema/ swelling in extremities
SOB
Chest pain
Dizziness, fatigue
Heart palpitations
Dry hacking cough

Question 15

Cardiac output equation

Answer 15

Stroke volume X heart rate

Question 16

Blood pressure equation

Answer 16

Cardiac output X systemic vascular resistance

Question 17

Left sided ventricular failure vs right

Answer 17

Left:
-pulmonary oedema
-inability for heart to pump out all oxygenated blood from lungs
-air mixes with plasma forming white frothy foam

Right:
-peripheral oedema in legs/ankles/
-build up of fluid in systemic circulation

Question 18

Consequences of LVF

Answer 18

Cyanosis
SOB/ DIB, Rhonda, wheeze, resp distress
Coughing white/pink sputum
Jugular vein distension
Infection
Ischaemia
Chest pain
Confusion
High bp/tachycardia (compensatory)
Orthopnoea

Question 19

Causes of heart failure

Answer 19

Infection
Chest trauma
MI/ ischaemia
Cardiomyopathy (disease of heart muscle)
Pulmonary disease
Tricuspid/pulmonary valve disease

Question 20

Heart failure medications

Answer 20

Diuretics- encourage fluid drainage (oedema), reduces hypertension
Ace inhibitors- lower bp, reduce strain on heart

Question 21

Ischaemic heart disease + symptoms

Answer 21

-Reduced blood supply to heart
-caused by atherosclerosis of coronary arteries
-prolonged ischaemia= necrosis, MI
-increased lactic acid in blood from anaerobic respiration of ischaemic tissue

Symptoms:
Left shoulder/arm pain, angina

Question 22

Cardiomyopathy

Answer 22

-disease of myocardium (muscle layer of heart), weakens, unable to pump efficiently

Question 23

Types of cardiomyopathy

Answer 23

-dilated
-hypertrophic
-arrythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
-restrictive cardiomyopathy
(Differ on How the heart muscle is damaged)

Question 24

Cardiomyopathy leads to…?

Answer 24

Irregular heart beat
Heart failure
Heart valve issues

Question 25

Aneurysm

Answer 25

Ballooning of blood vessel wall due to high bp
Can burst/rupture blood vessels
Common in aorta

Question 26

Causes of aneurysm

Answer 26

Congenital
Trauma
Infection
Atherosclerosis
(Causing high bp)

Question 27

Types of aneurysm

Answer 27

Fusiform- artery wall expands until it bursts
Dissecting- split of inner lining, blood filters through and strips layers apart, more blood around artery than in it, occurs in high pressure areas eg aorta
Saccular- artery wall forms a sac

Question 28

Complications of aneurysm

Answer 28

Stroke- clot travels to brain
Thromboembolism
Angina
Low Bp, tachycardia, light headedness
Varying Bp readings
Sudden extreme headache (subarachnoid haemorrhage)

Question 29

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Answer 29

Caused by atherosclerosis/genetics/smoking
Most Common over age 50

Question 30

Aortic dissection (result of AAA)

Answer 30

Inner layer of aorta tears, haemorrhage into vessel wall
Acute and life threatening

Question 31

Symptoms of AAA/ dissection

Answer 31

Pain in anterior chest/back, tearing pain
Syncope/Transient LOC
Hemiplegia (one sided paralysis)
Pulsating mass
Low bp

Question 32

Hypertension

Answer 32

High bp, 2 types:
-essential
-secondary
Affects kidneys

Question 33

Essential hypertension

Answer 33

Unknown cause, 95% of cases, asymptomatic

Question 34

Secondary hypertension

Answer 34

Caused by medical conditions:
Alcohol, obesity, pregnancy, drug treatment, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, adrenal gland disorders

Question 35

Hypotension

Answer 35

Low bp, inadequate blood supply to organs
Complication of other conditions
Eg postural hypotension, POTS, vasovagal syncope, Hypovolaemia, infection (loss of fluid)