Cardiovascular system Flashcards
Mammalian foetus
Foramen ovale connecting atria- becomes fossa ovalis
Ductus - vessel between the pulmonary trunk and aorta becomes the ligamentum arteriosum
Normal blood pressures
Deoxygenated blood in the vena cava - 3mmHg
Oxygenated blood to body - 100mgHg
Oxygenated blood to the lungs - 12 mmHg
Oxygenated blood from lungs - 7 mmHg
Atrioventricular valves
Separate atria to ventricles - inlet valves to ventricles
When ventricles contact evasion of the cusps is prevented by the action of the papillary muscles through the chordae tendinae
Semilunar valves
Oulet valves of ventricles
Both valves have three cusps
Aortic and pulmonary valves prevent backflow at the end of systole into the LV and RV
Cardiac sketeton
Structural integrity to the heart
Breaks up continuity between cardiac muscle cells of the atria and those of the ventricles
Coronary circulation
Two coronary arteries just above the aortic valve
Little anastomosis between left and right arterial supply
Extensive capillarisation
Great cardiac vein empties into coronary sinus
Thebesian veins empty into ventricles
Large vessel structure
Internal elastic lamina -> endothelium -> tunica media (smooth muscle and collagen) -> tunica adventita (nerves) -> Vaso vasorum (arteries only)
Starling forces
OUT capillary hydrostatic pressure
IN interstitial hydrostatic pressure
OUT osmotic forces due to interstitial fluid protein concentration
IN osmotic force due to plasma protein concentration
ONCOTIC PRESSURE - pressure exerted by protein
BLOOD PRESSURE
Oedema
Excessive filtration
Defective resorption
Defective lymphatic drainage
Cardiac action potentials
Pacemaker - SAN
Concentrations of important ions and the effect of opening a channel to create a current
Na+, K+, Ca2+
Cardiac muscle
Functional synctium
Myocytes are electronically coupled together
INtercalated discs : contain gap junctions
Central nuclei (1/2) with perinuclear space, branched fibres, blood supply
Other autonomic foci (apart from SAN) - atrial, junctional, ventricular, SAN (80-100)
Conduction system
SAN -> Atria (via bundle of His)-> AV noda -> Purkinje system (modified myocytes) -> Ventricular muscle
Ventricular action potentials
Phase 0 - Rapid depolarisation, fast Na+ channels open
Phase 1 - ‘Notch’ fast Na+ channels close
Phase 2 - Plateau, Ca2+ enters, K+ permeability low
Phase 3 - Repolarisation
Phase 4 - Resting membrane potential
Events of the cardiac cycle
-Systole-
ATRIAL SYSTOLE atria contract, topping up mostly filled ventricles
ISOVOLUMETRIC CONTRACTION ventricles contract but all valves are closed
RAPID EJECTION semilunar valves open, ventricles expel blood
REDUCED EJECTION semilunar valves open and of ventricular contractions
-Diastole-
ISOVOLUMETRIC RELAXATION ventricles relax, all valves remain closed
RAPID VENTRICULAR FILLING AV valves open, blood begins to fill ventricles
DIASTASIS ventricles fill slowly as venous pressure > ventricular pressure
ECG (electrocardium)
How it works
Current only flows to surface of the body when cardiac muscle is partly polarised and partly depolarised
No changes are recorded when cardiac muscle is completely polarised/completely depolarised
ECG - provide information
Anatomical orientation of the heart Relative size of heart chambers HR, rhythm, origin of excitation Spread of impulse Decay of excitation
ECG - phases
P wave - atrial depolarisation
QRS - ventricular depolarisation
T wave - ventricular repolarisation
PR interval - AV conduction time
Increase heart rate
Sympathetic nerves - release noradrenaline, opens more channels for If
Decrease heart rate
Parasympathetic nerves - release Ach, open fewer If channels
Sinus rhythm
SAN acting as pacemaker
QRS complex follows each P wave, PR and QT complexes normal, RR interval regular
Sinus arrhythmia
Normal QRS complex, PR and QT intervals but RR varies in set patterns
Sinus tachycardia
Normal response to exercise (or fever, hyperthyroidism and reflex to low arterial pressure)
Sinus bradycardia
May be abnormal (Addisionian crisis) but may be very fit individual
Atrial myocytes
Respond to both sympathetic stimulation (beta1 receptors) and parasympathetic stimulations (M2 receptors)
Ventricular myocytes
Are not directly responsive to parasympathetic stimulation but have beta1 receptors
Effects of Ach on ventricular myocytes contractility are indirectly mediated via pre-synaptic inhibition of noradrenaline release
Frank-Stirling relationship
Reservoir raised -> pressure causing ventricular filling increases -> more blood enters ventricle -> ventricular muscle stretches -> ventricular muscle responds with a stronger contraction
Afterload
The pressure at which the heart ejects
Determined in vivo by the peripheral resistance which is proportional to arterial pressure
Preload
The filling pressure of the heart determined in vivo by the venous volume and rate of venous return
Alteration of preload
Increased venous return -> increase volume of blood entering the heart during diastole i.e increase end diastolic volume
Increase EDV increases strength of subsequent systole
Flow rate in and out of the heart equalise
Venous return
Venous reservoir holds about 2/3 total blood volume
Displacement of blood from the veins increases venous return to the heart and increases cardiac output
Pressure in RA is known as CVP (central venous pressure) - low but positive
Alteration of afterload
Increased resistance to flow from the left ventricle -> direct opposition to ejection
To maintain stroke volume at increased afterload, heart must contract more forcefully
Symp NS influence is required to maintain CO
Systemic arterial pressure
Major determinant of tissue perfusion pressure - controlled by negative feedback
Mean arterial pressure = DBP + (SBP-DBP)/3
R (resistance) = [viscosity (n) x L (length)]/radius (r) ^4
Short term regulation of blood pressure
Baroreceptor regulation - autonomic NS
CVS system
Long term regulation of blood pressure
Control of fluid volume - vasopressin, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, natruiretic peptides
Body fluid balance - renal system
Baroreceptors
Non-encapsulated nerve endings in adventitia of arteries - aortic arch and carotid sinus
Central axons terminate in nucleus trachus solitarius
Mechanoreceptors
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Low blood pressure leads to decreased kidney perfusion which causes RENIN production
Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
ACE converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II which goes to:
- Adrenal cortex
- Posterior pituitary
- Arterioles and venules
- Inactive peptides
Atrial receptors
Low pressure stretch receptors in the walls of the atria act as volume receptors
Atrial natruiretic peptide
Released into the circulation when the atrial walls are stretched by an increase in blood volume
- Reduces blood volume b y stimulation excretion of salt and water by the kidney
- Relaxes vascular smooth muscle (stimulate cGMP formation) vasodilator
- Inhibits the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Potent defence mechanism against voume overload
Mediastinum
Midline partition within the thorax
Thymus
Found (large) in young animals
Cranial to heart
Connects two vessels - seals after puberty
Valves
Atrioventricular valves
RIGHT tricuspid
LEFT mitral
Semilunar valves
RV/PA pulmonary
LV/A aortic
Sympathetic NS - CVS
Norepinephrine and epinephrine (from adrenal medulla)
Increases rate of depolarisation of SAN so threshold is reached more rapidly - increase strength of contraction
Thoracolumbar
Neurotransmitters: Ach (preganglionic), Norepinephrine (post-ganglionic)
Innervates most areas of heart, blood vessels and airways
Parasympathetic NS - CVS
Vagus nerve - leaves brain, into thorax to heart, pass diaphragm to gut
Craniosacral
Innervates SAN -> decrease heart rate
Can be controlled with drugs that directly influence vagus
Decrease rate of depolarisation to threshold of SAN
Prolongs transmission of impulses to AV node
Local factors
Local vasodilation of blood vessels (NO, PGs, histamine released)
e.g. hypoxia
Increased CO2, H+ ions,
Adrenergic receptors
ALPHA 1 - smooth muscle, contraction -> blood vessels
BETA 1 - myocardium, excitatory -> HR increases
BETA 2 - smooth muscle, relaxation -> blood vessels
Body water content
60% of body
ICF - 40% (K, albumin)
ECF - 20% (Na, chloride)
Central regulation
CVS centre in medulla oblongata receives inputs from higher centres and baroceptors
Sympathetic and parasympathetic activity to the heart and blood vessels
Volume overload
Disease which requires the heart muscle to increase its activity causing overwork -> heart failure
e.g. valve insufficiencies, PDA, septal defects
Preload
Degree of stretch of the ventricular myocardium at the end of diastole When excessive: - increased atrial pressure - increases venous pressure - signs of congestion
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Common in dogs Ventricular and atrial dilation Depressed systolic function Weakened myocardium liable to further distension Frank-Starling mechanism impaired
Hyperthyroidism
Increased stimulation of beta-receptor by norepinephrine
Increases sympathetic NS
Activates G protein which will increase cAMP -> invcrease calcium release
More myosin being made by the isoenzyme, more crossbridge formation
Increase SV and/or HR -> increase blood pressure
Enlarges to cope from strain
Too much blood to lungs -> pulmonary hypertension -> oedema
Actions of norepinephrine and epinephrine on the heart
Sympathetic stimulation
Beta1 adrenoreceptors -> Gs -> adenylate cyclase -> increase [cAMP]
Sensitisation of troponin C to calcium
Stimulation of Ca uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum - muscle relaxes more quickly
Switches metabolism to less efficient fatty acid oxidation - needs more O2 per ATP metabolism
Positive chronotropic effects:
Phosphorylation of slow Ca2+ channels - conduct more calcium
Altered voltage gating of the inward current during phase 4 (resting membrane potential)
Faster repolarisation by earlier activation of potassium currents
Actions of acetylcholine on the heart
Vagal stimulation
Acts on muscarinic receptors on the SAN and AV node
Presynaptic muscarinic receptors can inhibit norepinephrine release from sympathetic nervous terminals
(Weak) Negative ionotropic effect:
Linked via an inhibitory G protein (Gi) to adenylate cyclase (inhibit cAMP formation)
Negative chronotropic effect:
Linked via a G protein to K+ ion channels
1st degree heart block
Prolonged PR intervals
Contraction delayed due to increased time for AV conduction
2nd degree heart block
AV node fails to transmit all atrial impulses (more p waves than QRS complexes
Atria beat more than once for each ventricular onctraction
3rd degree heart block
Transmission of impulse from atria to ventricles wrong
Atria and ventricles beat independently from each other
P waves and QRS complexes completely dissociated
First sound (S1)
‘Lub’
Long, low frequency
Associated with closure of the AV valves
Occurs mainly during isometric ventricular contraction
Second sound (S2)
‘Dub’
Shorted higher frequency than S1
Associated closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves at the onset of ventricular diastole
Third sound (S3)
Very faint ventricular sound caused for movement of blood from the atria into the ventricle during early ventricular diastole
Fourth sound (S4)
Associated with atrial systole
Caused by rapid flow in ventricles
Chronotropes
Change the heart rate by affecting the nerves controlling the heart, or by changing the rhythm produced by the SAN.
Positive chronotropes increase heart rate
Negative chronotropes decrease heart rate.
Inotropes
Agent that alters the force or energy of muscular contractions.
Negatively inotropes weaken the force of muscular contractions.
Positively inotropes increase the strength of muscular contraction.
Altering force of contraction
Alter the length-tension relationship of the heart muscle (preload)
Change the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration
Change the sensitivity of the myocardial contractile proteins to Ca2+
Other effectors on contractility
Oxygen supply
Excess K+ (hyperpolarises excitable cells, weakens contractions, block conducting system, slows HR - heart flaccid and dilated)
Calcium - too much causes spastic contraction, too little causes flaccidity
Blood flow
Laminar: in arteries and veins
Turbulent: in ventricles
Bolus: in capillaries
Carotid sinus
Where internal carotid branches off from common carotid
Receives bundle of baroreceptor nerve fibres (autonomic afferent) via carotid sinus nerve
Peripheral arterial chemoreceptors
Located in carotid and aortic bodies and respond to hypoxia, acidosis (decrease in pH or increase in CO2), asphyxia
Also respond when arterial pressure
Functional hyperaemia
Increase in blood flow in response to metabolic demand
Especially in skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, brain
Reactive hyperaemia
Increase in local blood flow in response to temporary ischaemia to facilitate to removal of accumulated metabolites
Endothelins
Family of peptides that have a series of differential actions depending on the organ/tissue
In the cvs, endothelins cause a biphasic reponse - initial vasodilation followed by a potent, sustained vasoconstriction
Positive inotropes and positive chronotropes (Rate and strength of contractions increased)
Tetralogy of Fallot
4 defects
- Pulmonary artery narrowed
- VSD
- Aorta opens over top of atrial septum
- RV atrophies
Congenitial diaphragmatic hernia
3 types
- Hole in postro-lateral corner
- adjacent to zyphoid process
- abnormal elevation
Persistent right aortic arch
Constrict oesophagus - regurges food at weaning
Increased appetite, loses weight, megaoesophagus, aspiration pneumonia
Cut ligament arteriosus
Portosystemic shunt
Liver shunt (ductus venosus doesn't shut down) Unfiltered blood in circulation
Patent foramen ovale
Retain hole in atrial septum
Usually no consequences as pressure keeps it shut
only treat if in conjunction with other heart defects
ECG
Is there a P wave for every QRS complex
Implies that:
- Atria did not depolarise normally before ventricular contraction
- Atria are unable to depolarise normally
- OR depolarisation giving rise to QRS complex arises in the wrong place
Possible causes: ventricular depolarisation, junctional depolarisation (AV node: bundle of His), atrial standstill, atrial fibrillation, sinus arrest with escape condition
ECG
Is there a QRS for every P wave?
Failure of conduction of atrial depolarisation through AV node normally AV block (3 types)
ECG
Are the P waves and QRS complexes consistently and reasonably related?
Show as inconsistent relationship between the two
Implies presence of separate ventricular and atrial rhythms
Atrioventricular dissocation
ECG
Are the QRS complexes and the P waves all the same?
Variation may imply that they have originated from a different site/been conducted differently
Abnormality of rhythm
However some variation in P wave can be normal in dogs and is described as a wondering pacemaker
ECG
Is the HR regular or irregular?
Normal rhythms tend to be regular or regularly irregular
Irregularly irregular always abnormal
Most common is atrial fibrillation - sounds chaotic
Auscultation is sensitive
Radiographs - strengths
Multiple thoracic structures
Demonstration of left sided failure
Radiographs - weaknesses
Cannot detect mild cardiac enlargement or which chambers are enlarged
Bad discrimination between fluid and soft tissue
Radiographs - what can you see?
Airways - more obvious when disease
Pulmonary parenchyma
Vasculature
Cardiac silhouette
Echocardiography - strengths
Moving image - good differentiation between fluid and soft tissue
Can combine with ECG
Echocardiography - weaknesses
Cannot image lung
Operator dependent
Haemostasis processes
Vascular spasm
Platelet adhesion and activation and coagulation (fibrin formation) (interaction)
Vasoconstriction
Thrombosis - an unwanted pathological process
Venous thrombosis - small number of platelets; large fibrin component
Arterial thrombosis - large platelet component
Inappropriate blood clotting (thrombosis) occludes blood vessels
Clotting
Severed vessel - tissue factor, extrinsic clotting > Collagen > Platelet adhesion > Platelet aggregation > Temporary haemostatic plug > Definitive haemostatic plug > Fibrin > Thrombin > Intrinsic clotting
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