Cardiovascular system Flashcards
what are the two main functions of the cardiovascular system?
transport and exchange
-delivers supplies to cells far removed from the site of uptake or manufacture
which 5 supplies are transported through the cardiovascular system?
1) oxygen (RBC’s pick up oxygen and give it to every cell in the body (almost)
2) water and nutrients (from digestive system - ex: glucose, fatty acids, etc = energy going to all cells picked up and carried by the blood)
3) hormones (chemical signals released from parts of the body - ex: hypothalamus - transported by cardiovascular system)
4) antibodies/ platelets/ leukocytes (antibodies play a key role in immune system (same with leukocytes) - platelets are fragments of cells which have a key role in blood clotting)
5) heat (transported - ex: when fingers and toes get cold - from core body heat to skin (helps us stay warm and cool off)
which 3 ‘wastes’ are transported through the cardiovascular system from the cells for elimination elsewhere?
1) carbon dioxide (CO2) - one of the major waste products through lungs and kidneys
2) urea, creatinine, bilirubin (urea break down of amino acids combined with CO2 - our bodies also harness this to create concentrated urine)
- creatinine - important in muscles - used for immediate energy secreted by kidneys
- bilirubin - cause of jaunice (malfunctioning liver = yellow skin) - secreted with bile
3) heat (excessive exercise)
what are the 3 primary components of the cardiovascular system?
1) blood
2) heart
3) vasculature
3 primary components of the cardiovascular system: blood
- medium for bulk transport of materials
- bulk transport is not diffusion, it’s like a river or the wind - everything is transported together
- blood does move down a gradient (pressure gradient)
2 primary components of the cardiovascular system: heart
- pressure gradient generator (pump)
- highest blood pressure is in your heart as well as lowest blood pressure
- dual pump: right side pump and left side pump
- has many endocrine functions - senses local environment, releases and responds to endocrine cues
3 primary components of the cardiovascular system: vasculature
closed, dual circuit for one way flow of blood (closed because tubes are continuous (there are exceptions - ex: leaky capillaries)
a) pulmonary circuit (low pressure, low resistance)
- blood is under higher pressure than atmosphere which is why we bleed out when cut, in lungs, not a lot of resistance to blood flow - “friction” - friction of blood against blood vessel walls
- smaller amount of pressure is needed
- minimum pressure = 25 mm (25 over 80)
b) systemic circuit (high pressure, high resistance)
- maximum pressure of 120 mm (120 over 80)
- this is five times greater than pulmonary circuit
- even though it’s the same amount of blood that goes through both*****
what are the components of blood?
1) plasma
2) erythrocytes
3) leukocytes
4) platelets
complex suspension of water, solutes, and formed elements
- mostly red blood cells, floating in plasma
- formed elements are mostly cells, but can be just fragments of cells
what makes up the bulk of the blood?
plasma
main components of blood: what is in our plasma?
composed of water (90%) and a variety of dissolved:
1) proteins (ex: albumins (most common (about 60%) - carrier protein), globulins (carrier protein), fibrinogens (key role in hemostasis (blood clotting), hormones)
2) electrolytes (ex: Na+, Cl-, K+, HCO3-)
3) nutrients (ex: glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins)
4) gases (ex: N2 (most dominant), O2 (only about 1%), CO2)
5) metabolic waste products (ex: urea, creatinine)
what is serum?
plasma from which fibrinogen and other clotting proteins have been removed
which is the most numerous of our blood cells?
erythrocytes (RBC’s)
-over 99%
how many RBC’s do we have per ml of blood?
5 billion (approx.)
how fast do RBCs reproduce?
5 trillion blood cells, 2 to 3 million blood cells per second are made
-15 million also die in that same time frame
why are RBCs flat cells?
to increase surface area which facilitates diffusion of oxygen (indirect transport of CO2)
all blood cells lack organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, etc) therefore, cannot do oxidative phosphorylation. This categorizes them as anaerobic cells since they do not use the oxygen they carry.
true or false?
false, this is ONLY true in mammals
what are RBCs main function?
to transport O2 directly and CO2 indirectly
How long do RBCs live?
short lived, approx 120 days - rapidly produced in the bone marrow
-they are short lived because they do not fix themselves, can be engulfed by macrophages
definition of hematocrit
the percentage of blood volume that is erythrocytes (fig 16-3)
-approx. 42 % (women) and 47% (men)
(because of body size, menstruation)
kidney cells release ______ in response to low blood O2 saturation, stimulating the production of _______
erythropoietin, RBCs
______ sense blood oxygen saturation, therefore, when red blood cells are under-saturated in this area, this stimulates RBC production
kidneys
if you lose a lot of blood, you’re said to be _____ - unless this is chronic, it corrects itself
anemic
if you produce too many RBCs, you’re said to be _______-this is beneficial at rest, more blood cells to carry oxygen, but can be a problem when it is too elevated and you’re exercising too much (heart attack) - optimal levels are key
polycythemic
leukocytes (WBCs)
- play a key role in the body’s immune response
- primarily act outside of the bloodstream (exit capillaries)
- “mobile units of the body’s protective system”
what are the 5 types of WBCs?
“never let monkeys eat bananas”
1) neutrophils
2) lymphocytes
3) monocytes
4) eosinophils
5) basophils
cellular elements produced from the fragmentation of large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes
platelets
what is the primary function of platelets?
hemostasis (blood clotting)
-binding to exposed collagen at wound site activates platelets, causing platelet aggregation and release of serotonin (and other chemical agents) in the brain, constricting blood vessels and preventing blood loss
what is the path of blood flow in the heart?
- Left atrium
- left ventricle
- aorta
- other arteries (towards heart or brain)
- everywhere else in body
- branch into arterioles, then capillary beds
- venules
- gas exchange via diffusion is microcirculation (this is where most exchange between blood and tissue occurs)
- venules drain into veins (inferior vena cava)
- superior vena cava
- right atrium (gets deoxygenated blood) - mostly, this has well over 50% of oxygen (unless you’re exercising intensely)
- even at 75% saturation - hemoglobin is a pigment - depending on its oxygenated state, it’s reflection of color differs (darker red)
- this blood leaves through pulmonary arteries
- gets picked up by hemoglobin, fully oxygenated blood (about 98-99%)
the pulmonary system starts at the ____ and ends at the ____
right ventricle, left atrium
the systemic system starts at the ____ and ends at the ____
left ventricle, right atrium
veins carry blood _____ the heart whereas arteries carry blood ____ the heart
towards, away from
arteries always carry oxygenated blood
true or false?
false
which vein/artery carries the blood which is richessed in oxygen?
pulmonary veins
what is microcirculation
the circulation of the blood in the smallest blood vessels, present within organ tissues. The microcirculation is composed of terminal arterioles, capillaries, and venules
what are the 3 layers of the heart?
1) endocardium
2) myocardium
3) epicardium
myocardium
- cardiac muscle cells joined lengthwise by intercalated disks with many gap junctions that electrically couple them
- formed by a thick layer of contractile cells (99% of total) arranged in circular (atria) and spiral patterns (ventricles)
- a network of non contractile cardiac cells (1%)
- cardiac tissue is directly supplied by O2 and nutrients via the coronary circulation (1st branches off the aorta)
endocardium
- thin inner lining of specialized epithelial tissue
- this is in direct contact with the blood
epicardium
-inner later of a serous membrane that surrounds the heart; secretes pericardial fluid (lubricant) into pericardial cavity
what is the pericardial sac?
- formed by a perietal pericardium which are fused to an outer fibrous pericardium (connective tissue)
- prevents over distension of the heart; anchors the heart to the diaphragm and thoracic wall
the heart has sensory functions and endocrine functions
true or false?
true
which layer of the heart is said to be the “muscle”?
myocardium
the atria contract blood _____whereas the ventricles contract blood _____
downward, upward
which has a larger diameter? contractile cardiac cells or non-contractile cardiac cells?
non-contractile, there are also more gap junctions - this allows electrical signal to travel about 4m per second
what is the name given to the circulatory system of the heart?
coronary circulation
what is the fibrous pericardium made of?
tough tissues with a lot of collagen
which side of the heart is thicker?
-the left side is thicker, this is why people say the heart is on the left side of the chest when really, it’s dead center
what separates the oxygenated from the deoxygenated blood int he heart?
interventricular septum
even though the left side of the heart is bigger, both sides pump the same amount of blood with the same amount of force
true or false?
false, yes both sides pump the same amount of blood per beat, however, the force generated by the left ventricle is much greater than the right ventricle
why is the left side of the heart bigger and pumps blood with more force than the right side?
because the resistance in the systemic system is so much higher, the left ventricle needs to push much harder to get the same amount of blood flow
what is the driving force of the blood in the heart? and consequently, the entire body?
pressure differences created during the heartbeat cycle drive blood flow from atria to ventricles, and from ventricles to arteries
-ALL blood flow follows this pressure gradient
what inhibits the backflow of blood in the heart?
backflow is inhibited by two sets of passive, on-way heart valves:
1) atrioventricular (AV) valves: between atria and ventricles (mitral or bicuspid (left) and tricuspid (right/RST; right side tricuspid) valves)
2) semilunar valves: between ventricles and main arteries (there’s three of these)
- they’re like cups
what is the name of the valve that sits between the atria and the veins?
-there are no valves between the atria and the veins, because of this, there may be a bit of backflow, but it’s very minor
positive pressure ____ valves of the heart opens them
behind
what is the effect of the contraction of the ventricle on the valves in the heart?
-bicuspid valve closes, semilunar valve opens
positive pressure _____ of valves opens them
ahead
each valve in the heart is surrounded by a connective tissue right connected to a central ________ that separates atria from ventricles
fibrous skeleton
what are two other main functions of the valves in the heart other than stopping blood flow?
1) provides origin and insertion sites for cardiac muscle - these are at the same spot and therefore, can only allows the muscle to constrict
2) physically and electrically separates atria from ventricles - without this separation, there could not be a coordinated and strong beat
atria contract from the ______, ventricles contract from the ______
top down, bottom up
what is the definition of a heart beat
the heartbeat is an orderly wave of contraction that sweeps through the myocardium
what coordinates the heartbeat?
coordinated by specialized non-contractile muscle cells (they lack sarcomeres) that generate and conduct action potentials
autorhythmic pacemaker cells
- primarily found int he right atria (there are some in the interventricular septum)
1) sinoatrial (SA) node (approx 75 depol/min) -natural pacemaker of the heart (vein into atrium) - these dictate heart rate during rest and exercise - the fastest depolarizing cell determines the heart rate
2) atrioventricular (AV) node (approx 50 depol/min) - small diameter cells with fewer gap junctions and low AP conducting speed
what is the function of large diameter conducting cells in the heart?
- this is like a backup system in case the autorhythmic pacemaker cells are damaged
- some of these in the ventricles are autorhythmic
- these allow for rapid depolarization through the heart
- firing rate is influenced by the nervous system and the endocrine system
- main job is to act like neurons
internodal and interatrial pathways are examples of which type of heart cell?
large diameter conducting cell
what is the function of the internodal and interatrial pathways?
- carry impulses generated in SA node to the AV node and left atrium, respectively
result: atria contract in unison from top down
the bundle of His is an example of what type of muscle cell?
large diameter conducting cell
what is the purpose of the bundle of His
- it is the sole electrical pathway (an AP pathway) connecting atria to ventricles; splits into two bundle branches
- following a 100 msec delay in the AV node, the electrical signal is quickly transferred through the central fibrous skeleton to the apex of the heart
- this ensures atria empty fully before ventricles begin contraction
-this is also why the ventricles don’t contract from the top down
purkinje fibers are an example of what type of heart cell?
large diameter conducting cell
what is the purpose of the Purkinje fibers?
- extensive network of branches that spread upward towards the valves, transmitting the electrical signal to contractile cells as they go
result: ventricles contract in unison from apex upwards
unlike skeletal muscle cells, the contractile heart cells have very long duration APs (250 msec) due to what?
prolonged opening of Ca++ channels
what prevents tetanus in contractile heart muscle cells?
the absolute refractory period is almost as long as the contractile response (contraction + relaxation)
-this prevents summation and tetanus, and allows adequate time for heart chambers to refill between beats
what is an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)?
-not a direct recording, but rather an indirect recording of the sum of the total of all electrical activity occurring in the heart
- electrical activity is detected by pairs of electrodes at 3 points on the skin’s surface (electrical activity leaks and travels through your body)
- indication of the overall spread of electrical current through the heart during cardiac cycle
all contractile cells in the heart are repolarized during which segment of the cardiac cycle?
TP segment (near the end)
the flat lines illustrated in the cardiac cycle represent what?
when all fibers are depolarized or repolarized
segment of the cardiac cycle where all cells of the atria are depolarized, respectively
PR segment (after P wave, before QRS complex)
segment of cardiac cycle where all the cells of the ventricles are depolarized, respectively
ST segment (after QRS complex)
in an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), the repolarization phase of the atria is masked by what?
the QRS complex
explain the cardiac cycle measured during an EKG
1) P: atrial depolarization - atria contracting (ventricles passively filling)
2) AV nodal delay - atria emptying (topping up ventricles)
3) QRS complex - ventricular depolarization - ventricles contracting - at the same time, we get atrial repolarization
4) all fibers in ventricle contracting (and depolarizing), half way between S and T (muscles are contracted but they start to relax) - ventricles start emptying
5) T: ventricular repolarization - ventricles are emptying (until 1/2 way through T wave) - until the pressure is lower than that of the aorta (pressure decreases in ventricles and increases in aorta)
6) ventricles relaxing (ventricles passively filling) - this is called the TP segment - this is the longest period of the heart cycle (about 2/3 of entire cycle)
during the QRS complex, the first fibers in the ventricle (below AV node) become depolarize during the ____ and the last fibers in the ventricle (base of left ventricle) become depolarized during ____
Q, S
ECG abnormalities cause ______
arythmias
what is a heart block?
damage to the AV node - the relay from the atria to the ventricles
explain the 1st degree heartblock
1st degree: damage decreases rate of AP movement through AV node (increase AV delay) - this results in a longer PR segment - the signal gets “stuck” for longer in the AV node before it gets transmitted
explain 2nd degree heart block
when one of every 3, 4 or 5 atrial AP waves are ‘dropped’
- also called “skipped a heartbeat”
- technically this is not correct because atria still contract, ventricles do not - QRS or T complex are not present, you still get the P wave, so the heart doesn’t technically skip a beat
explain 3rd degree heartblock
complete blockage of the signal from atria to ventricles
- no synchrony between atrial and ventricualr electrical activities
- the ventricles are being driven by slow autorhythmic cells
- when this happens, we have two completely separate pacemakers that are not interacting with each other
- we still get P waves, but we get far fewer Q waves
- therefore, during any type of exercise, you will get an increase in atrial contraction but since this signal is not passed onto the ventricles, there will be no additional blood flow through the body
what is ventricular fibrillation?
when the heart muscle is no longer depolarizing synchronously, making coordinated pumping action impossible
-this can occur due to an infection, heart attack, etc
how do we reverse the effects of ventricular fibrillation?
- defibrillation
- this stops all electrical activity in the heart, in hopes that the SA node will contract first and begin the heart beat normally again
what are the two stages of the cardiac cycle?
systole - period of ventricular contraction
diastole - period of ventricular relaxation
what are the 2 stages of the systole period of the cardiac cycle?
1) isovolumetric contraction
- ventricular tension quickly increases
- AV valve closes, no blood enters or exits the ventricles (volume of ventricles is not changing
2) ventricular ejection
- increasing pressure forces semilunar valves to open
- approx 1/2 of the ventricles blood volume (stroke volume) enters aorta (and pulmonary arteries via the right ventricle)
- once ventricualr pressure declines below aortic pressure, the semilunar valves close (about half way through the T wave)
what are the 3 stages of the diastole period of the cardiac cycle?
1) isovolumetric relaxation
- ventricular tension begins to wane
- ventricular pressure is too high for AV valve to open; no blood enters the ventricles
2) passive ventricular fillin
- blood entering relaxed atria begins to pass into ventricles under its own pressure (AV valve opens)
- ventricular volume increases
** about 80% of all ventricular filling occurs during this phase
3) atrial contraction
- topping up of ventricles (increase in ventricular volume by 20%)
- this stretches the ventricle walls a little bit
when we listen to a heart beat, what are we really hearing?
when our valves close (AV valve), we get the “lub”
the closing of our semilunar valves makes the “dub”
what causes a heart murmur?
when there is a leak between valves
what is blood pressure measured according to?
- by convention, all body pressures are given relative to athmospheric pressure
- so 100mmHg = 100mmHg above atm. pressure (760 mm Hg)
-this is why we bleed “out”
systolic pressure
maximum pressure measured in aorta (approx 120 mmHg)
-midway through ventricualr ejection
diastolic pressure
- minimum pressure measured in aorta (approx 80 mmHg)
- at the end of isovolumetric contraction (measured during systole)
mean arterial pressure
- average aortic pressure during the entire cardiac cycle (approx 93 mmHg)
- driving force pushing blood through the systemic circuit
during cardiac contraction, there is a second increase in pressure (even though there is no blood entering aorta) due to some of the blood going backwards, then rebounding forwards. What is this increase called?
incisura
end diastolic volume (EDV) - def.
- maximum ventricular volume attained during the cardiac cycle
- occurs in systole - phase of isovolumetric contraction
end-systolic volume (ESV) - def.
minimum ventricular volume attained suring blood ejection phase
-measured at the start of diastole
equation for stroke volume
SV = EDV - ESV
stroke volume is influenced by the endocrine and nervous systems
true or false?
true, same as the heart
cardiac output
the rate at which the heart’s ventricles pump blood
Heart rate X stroke volume = cardiac output
-at rest, this is about 5L/min which is about the total blood volume of your body