Cardiovascular System Flashcards
The Cardiovascular System
A circulating transport system - A pump (the heart) - A conducting system (blood vessels0 - A fluid medium (blood) Functions to transport materials to and from cells
5 Functions of Blood
- Transport of dissolved substances
- Regulation of pH and ions
- Restriction of fluids losses at injury sites
- Defence against toxins and pathogens
- Stabilisation of body temperature
Characteristics of Blood
- Blood volume:
M: 5-6L F: 4-5L - Blood is highly viscous, slightly alkaline (7.35-7.45), temp 38°C
- Blood consists of: ~55% plasma and ~45% formed elements (erythrocytes: RBC, Leukocytes: WBC, Thrombocytes: Platelets)
- Hematocrit: Measure of % of RBC in whole blood
Formation of Blood Cells
- Formed elements develop by Hematopoiesis in red bone marrow
- Hemocytoblasts differentiate into:
1) Myeloid stem cells: give rise to RBC platelets, eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils, monocytes
2) Lymphoid stem cells: give rise to lymphocytes - migrate to lymphatic system to complete maturation
Erythrocytes (RBCs)
- RBC’s = 99% of blood’s formed elements
- Approx 5 million RBC per microlitre of blood (1 drop ~50 microlites):
- High SA:V (quick absorption and release of oxygen)
- Bioconcave discs
Blood Typing
- Cell surface proteins that identify cells to immune system
- Normal cells are ignored and foreign cells attacked
4 Basic blood types
- Type A (surface antigen A) has antibodies to B
- Type B (surface antigen B) has antibodies to A
- Type AB (surface antigens A and B) neither antibodies
- Type O (neither A nor B surface antigens) antibodies to A and B
Rhesus (Rh) Factor
- 5 Rh antigens
- refers only to the D antigen
- Rh positive (Rh+): presence of surface antigen
- Rh negative (Rh-): absence of surface antigen
- RBC: surface antigen A and Rh antigen - A+
Cross-Reactions
- Normal cells are ignored and foreign cells attacked
- Plasma antibody meets its specific surface antigen
- Blood will agglutinate and hemolyze
Functions of LEukocytes
- WBCs accumulate at the sites of infection/inflammation: lymphocytes recirculate between blood and tissues
- WBCs ‘emigrate’ from blood compartment: adhesion molecules on WBC and endothelial cells allow WBCs to ‘stick’ to endothelium then move to site of infection/inflammation via chemotaxis
- Once at the site of infection/inflammation WBCs carrout out various functions in the inflammatory/immune response
Thrombocytes (Platelets)
- Cell fragments involved in human clotting system
- Disc-shaped structures, no nuclei
- Release important clotting chemicals
- Temporarily patch damaged vessel walls
- Actively contract tissue after clot formation
Platelet production
- Thrombocytopoiesis
- Occurs in bone marrow
- Megakaryocytes break into 2000-3000 cell fragments in red bone marrow
Hemostasis
- The cessation of bleeding
- Three phases
1) Vascular phase
2) Platelet phase
3) coagulation phase
Vascular phase (Hemostasis)
- Vascular spasm: lasts about 30 mins
- Contraction of smooth muscle of damaged blood vessel wall caused by: Damage to smooth muscle and endothelial cells, activation of platelets (release vasocontrictors) and reflexes are initiated by pain receptors
Platelet Phase (Hemostasis)
- Begins within 15 seconds after injury
- Platelet plug formation
- Platelets contact and adhere to damaged tissue in blood vessel wall. Platelets become activated, extend projections to attach to one another, positive feedback loop of aggregration. Activated platelets release clotting compounds, plug size restricted by inhibitory compounds, negative feedback and formation of blood clot
Coagulation Phase (Hemostasis)
- Begins 30 seconds or more after injury
- Converts prothrombin (enzyme produced by liver) into thrombin.
Clot retraction and repair
Platelets pull on fibrin threads - clot contracts drawing wound edges closer together.
Fibroblasts form connective tissue and new endothelial cells repair vessel lining - clot eventually dissolved through action of plasmin (plasma enzyme)
Organisation of the CV system
The CV System is a closed loop. The heart is a pump that circulates blood through the system. Arteries take blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart
Pulmonary Circuit
Carries blood to and from gas exchange surfaces of lungs
Systemic Circuit
Carries blood to and from the rest of the body
Location of the Heart
- Rests on diaphragm
- Situated in the mediastinum
- Two-thirds lies to left of midline
Pericardium
- Heart enclosed and stabilised by pericardium: fibrous network of collagen fibres - lined by serous membrane with 2 layers
1) Outer = parietal pericardium - lines inner surface of tough pericardial sac
2) Inner = visceral layer (epicardium) - attached to outer surface of heart - Pericardial cavity filled with fluid: reduces friction
Heart Wall
1) Epicardium (visceral layer of serous pericardium)
2) Myocardium (cardiac muscle tissue): bulk of heart tissue, provides pumping action
3) Endocardium: continuous with endothelial lining of great vessels
Myocardium
- Cardiomyocytes or cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle fibres
- Contain single central nucleus
- Connected via gap junctions
- Have very high aerobic capacity
Intercalated discs
- Specialised contact points between cardiomyocytes
- Join cells via gap junction and desmosomes
Functions of intercalated discs
- Maintain structure
- Enhance molecular and electrical connections (transfer force of contraction)
- Conduct action potentials
Superficial Anatomy of Heart
- Great veins and arteries at the base
- Pointed tip is apex
- Coronary sulcus: divides upper atria from ventricles
- Interventricular Sulus: Separate R & L ventricles
Chambers of the Heart
- 4 chambers: upper 2 atria, lower 2 ventricles
Atria
- Receive blood into the heart
- R and L atria separated by inter-atrial septum
- Septum has fossa ovalis (shallow depression in wall where foramen ovale of foetal heart was - closes over at birth)
- Auricle = ‘flap’ of expandable atrium visible when not filled
Ventricles
- Right ventricle pumps blood to pulmonary circulation: thinner wall, less pressure than left ventricle
- Left ventricle pumps blood to systemic circulation: thicker wall, greater pressure, rounder in shape
Blood flow through the heart
- Right atrium receives blood from systemic circulation via: superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC), colonary sinus
- right atrium to right ventricle through AV valve
- right ventricle to pulmonary trunk and pulmonary arteries
- then into pulmonary circulation
- blood passes through lungs and returns to heart through 4 pulmonary veins
- pulmonary veins into left atrium
- left atrium to left ventricle through AV valve
- then into systemic circulation via aorta
Valves of the heart
- direct blood flow through and out of the heart
- valves prevent backflow of blood
- composed of dense connective tissue covered by endothelium
Atrioventricular (AV) Valves: Valves of the Heart
- Lie between atria and ventricles: right AV and left AV
- Cusps linked by chordae tendinae to papillary muscle
- Pressure in atria > pressure in ventricles: valves open and blood flows in ventricles
- Pressure in ventricles > pressure in atria: valves close and blood flows into aorta or PA
Semilunar Valves: Valves of the Heart
- Between ventricles and major arteries (aorta and PA)
- Prevent blood flowing back into heart
- Pulmonary semilunar valve: at base of pulmonary arterial trunk
- Aortic semilunar valve: at base of aorta
- No valves between veins and atria
Coronary Circulation: Coronary Arteries
- branch from ascending aorta
- Fill upon diastole
- Carry oxygenated blood to the myocardium: pulsatile blood flow, little flow during systole
Coronary Circulation: Coronary Sinus
- Carries deoxygenated blood back to right atrium
- Thin walled vein with no smooth muscle to alter diameter
Clinical Note: Myocardial Infarction
- Blockage of coronary artery
- Lack of oxygen to muscle > muscle death
- causes: atherosclerosis
Cardiac Muscle Fibres: Autorhythmic fibres
- Specialised muscle fibres
- Initiate and conduct AP
- Form conduction system
Cardiac Muscle Fibres: Contractile fibres
- 99% of all muscle fibres
- Provide mechanical work of the pump
Components of Conducting System: Sinoatrial Node (SN)
- Spontaneously depolarises (80-100 times/min)
- Rate of depolarization modified by neurotransmitters from ANS
- E.g. resting HR slower than rate of depolarisation of SA node due to parasympathetic tone
Components of Conducting System: Atrioventricular (AV) Node
- Spontaneous depolarisation 40-60 times/min
- Conduction slows at AV node (AV nodal delay)
- Delay allows atria time to contract