cardiovascular system Flashcards
What are the components of blood?
Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma
Plasma is the liquid part of blood that transports various substances.
What is the main function of red blood cells?
Deliver oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and organs
Red blood cells are also known as erythrocytes.
What is the function of white blood cells?
Fight infection and are part of the immune system
White blood cells are also known as leukocytes.
What do platelets do?
Help the blood to clot
Platelets are also known as thrombocytes.
What is hemostasis?
The process of blood clotting to prevent excessive blood loss
Hemostasis involves several steps to form a clot at a wound site.
List the steps of hemostasis.
- Vascular spasm
- Platelet plug formation
- Coagulation
These steps work together to stop bleeding.
What are the four chambers of the heart?
- Right atrium
- Left atrium
- Right ventricle
- Left ventricle
The atria are the upper chambers, while the ventricles are the lower chambers.
What are the layers of the heart wall?
- Pericardium
- Myocardium
- Endocardium
The myocardium is the thickest layer composed of cardiac muscle.
What are the four valves of the heart?
- Tricuspid valve
- Pulmonary valve
- Mitral valve
- Aortic valve
These valves regulate blood flow in and out of the heart.
Describe systemic circulation.
A four-step process that delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to the body
The steps include blood flow from the left atrium to the aorta and into the arteries.
Describe pulmonary circulation.
The movement of deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart
Blood is sent from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.
What is the cardiac cycle?
The complete cycle of heart contraction and relaxation
It includes systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation) phases.
What does an EKG measure?
The electrical activity of the heart over time
EKG displays heart rate and rhythm with waves representing different heart movements.
What do the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave represent in an EKG?
- P wave: Atrial contraction (systole)
- QRS complex: Ventricular contraction (systole)
- T wave: Ventricular relaxation (diastole)
Each wave corresponds to specific electrical activities of the heart.
What is blood pressure?
The force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries
Blood pressure is expressed as a fraction, systolic over diastolic.
What are the normal ranges for blood pressure?
Normal: ≤120/80 mmHg
Elevated: 120-129/<80 mmHg
Hypertension stages: 130-139/80-89 mmHg (stage 1) and ≥140/≥90 mmHg (stage 2)
Hypertensive crisis is ≥180/≥120 mmHg.
What is a normal resting heart rate?
60 to 100 beats per minute (BPM)
A lower resting heart rate typically indicates better heart health.
What is plasma made of?
Water, sugar, fat, protein, and salts
Plasma is the liquid component of blood that transports various substances.
What is the function of plasma in blood?
Transport various substances including blood cells, nutrients, and waste products
Plasma also helps maintain the body’s fluid balance.
What is the role of platelets in blood?
Platelets help form clots at the wound site to stop bleeding
Platelets are essential for hemostasis, which is the process that prevents blood loss.
Where are new blood cells produced?
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the spongy material inside bones responsible for the production of blood cells.
What is the average lifespan of red blood cells?
About 120 days
The lifespan of blood cells varies, with red blood cells living approximately 120 days.
What percentage of blood is plasma?
About 55%
Whole blood is composed of approximately 55% plasma and 45% blood cells.
What is hemostasis?
A physiologic process that stops blood from leaking out of a damaged blood vessel through clot formation
Hemostasis is crucial for maintaining blood in its fluid state and preventing excessive blood loss.
