CVS Flashcards
what are the great vessels of the thorax
- ascending and descending aorta
- brachiocephalic trunk
- left common carotid artery
- left subclavian artery
- superior vena cava
- brachiocephalic veins
- inferior vena cava
- pulmonary arteries
- pulmonary veins
what are the main nerves in the thorax
- phrenic nerves
- passes anterior to the hilum
- pierces through the diaphragm and innervates from the abdominal side
- vagus nerves
- joins up with and passes through the diaphragm via the oesophageal hiatus
- recurrent laryngeal nerve- branch of the vagus - passes over the arch of the aorta
- left recurrent laryngeal passes under ligamentum arteriosum then back up to the larynx muscles.
what is the difference between the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves
the left comes down into the thorax while the right doesn’t
root and site of function of the phrenic nerve
C3,4,5
innervates the diaphragm - motor and sensory
pierces through the diaphragm to innervate from the abdominal side
what are the branches of the aorta
- brachocephalic trunk → right common carotid and right subclavian
- left common carotid artery
- left subclavian artery
name the layers of the heart
- endocardium
- myocardium
- pericardium - divided into 3 main layers
- epicardium AKA visceral pericardium [part of serous pericardium]
- parietal pericardium [part of serous pericardium]
- fibrous pericardium
what is the endocardium location, composition and function
- inner most layer of the heart
- made up of endothelial cells
- lines the heart chambers and valves
what is the myocardium location, composition and function
- muddle layer of the heart
- made up of muscle cells - cardiac myocytes
- striated branching cells with many mitochondria
- intercalated discs to allow for contraction in syncytium
what is the pericardium, how many layers/subdivisions
a double layered sac covering the heart.
-
inner layer = serous pericardium: has simple squamous epithelium
- visceral serous pericardium [epicardium] lines the outer surface of the heart
- parietal serous pericardium lines the fibrous pericardium and secretes fluid.
-
outer layer = fibrous pericardium
- tough connective tissue that anchors the heart to the mediastinum.
- outside → in = FPSV
- Fibrous, parietal serous, SPACE, visceral serous
what is the pericardium, how many layers/subdivisions
a double layered sac covering the heart.
-
inner layer = serous pericardium: has simple squamous epithelium
- visceral serous pericardium [epicardium] lines the outer surface of the heart
- parietal serous pericardium lines the fibrous pericardium and secretes fluid.
-
outer layer = fibrous pericardium
- tough connective tissue that anchors the heart to the mediastinum.
what is the significance of level T4/T5?
sternal angle
point at which the trachea bifurcates
end of the aortic arch and begining of the thoracic aorta.
what surface marking marks the apex of the heart
midclavicular line of the 5 intercostal space
where can you hear the aortic valve
the 2nd intercostal space at the right sternal margin
where can you hear the pulmonary valve
2nd intercostal space of the left sternal margin
where does the right coronary artery originate from
the ascending aorta
where is the right coronary artery located
on the anterior surface of the heart in the atrioventricular sulcus.
what are the main branches of the right coronary artery?
the right marginal artery
posterior interventricular artery - present in 90% of people.
where does the left coronary artery originate from
the ascending aorta
what are the main branches of the left coronary artery?
- left anterior descending
- the left marginal artery / obtuse marginal artery
- Circumflex artery
- diagonals
what are the potential sources of blood in the posterior interventricular arterty
- 90% of people have PIV supplied by the right coronary artery
- 30% of people have the PIV supplied by the circumflex artery
- 20% of people have TWO PIVs supplied by each
what are the potential sources of blood in the posterior interventricular arterty
- 90% of people have PIV supplied by the right coronary artery
- 30% of people have the PIV supplied by the circumflex artery
- 20% of people have TWO PIVs supplied by each
the Posterior interventricular artery supplies …
the atrioventricular node recieves blood supply from..
describe the consequence of disease in the PIV
as the PIV supplies the AVN, disease could limit O2 supply → electrical blockage in the heart.
the atrioventricular node recieves blood supply from..
the Posterior interventricular artery supplies …
how does blood enter the right atrium
through the superior vena cava orifice and inferior vena cava orifice
crista terminalis
the name of the internal smooth muscular ridge that divides the right atrium?
the name of the internal smooth muscular ridge that divides the right atrium?
crista terminalis
what is the fossa ovalis and where is it located
This is the remnant of the foramen ovale in the foetal heart, which allows right to left shunting of blood to bypass the lungs.
located in the septum of the heart above the inferior vena cave orifice
what are the 2 parts of the righ atrium, divide by the crista terminalis
trabeculated aurecle
smooth walled atria
where is the tricuspid valve located
in the right Atrioventricular orifice
how many pulmonary veins are there
4
describe the valves of the heart
- right atria → ventricle via tricuspid valve
- left atria → ventricle via bicuspid valve AKA mitral
- both of these are operated by chordae tendinae and papillary muscle
- right has 3 flaps while left has 2
- aortic semilunar valve
- pulmonary semilunar valves
- operated by pressure of the aorta and pulmonary vein exceeding that of the ventricles
- backflow of blood fills the pouches of the semilunar valves, forcing them shut → 2nd heart sound DUB
- aorta valve is thicker
how do the tricuspid and bicuspid valves work?
when the pressure in the atria exceeds that of the ventricle, they open to allow blood to pass through
The chordae tendineae prevent the prolapse of these valves by becoming tense thus pulling the flaps, holding them in closed position.
describe the muscle walls of the right and left atria
pectinate
describe the muscle walls of the right and left ventricles and how do they differ
trabeculated
left is thicker than right due to having to pump blood around the body
at what phase of the cardiac cycle do the coronary arteries fill and why
during diastole
during systole the coronary arteries are compressed such that no blood flow can occur
describe the conducting system of the heart
- An excitation signal (an action potential) is created by the sinoatrial (SA) node.
- The wave of excitation spreads across the atria, causing them to contract.
- Upon reaching the atrioventricular (AV) node, the signal is delayed.
- It is then conducted into the bundle of His, down the interventricular septum.
- The bundle of His and the Purkinje fibres spread the wave impulses along the ventricles, causing them to contract
what is the SAN and where is it located?
the sinoatrial node is a collection of pacemaker cells, located in the upper wall of the right atrium, at the junction where the superior vena cava enters.
where is the AVN located
located within the right atrioventricular septum, near the opening of the coronary sinus.
what is the blood supply of the AVN and SAN
right coronary artery
PIV specifically for AVN
WHAT MAKES UP THE BORDERS OF THE HEART
- Right border – Right atrium
- Inferior border – Left ventricle and right ventricle
- Left border – Left ventricle (and some of the left atrium)
- Superior border – Right and left atrium and the great vessels
What area does each coronary artery supply
- right coronary artery = right atrium and ventricle
- LAD = right and left ventricles and interventricular septum
- obtuse / left marginal artery = left ventricle
- circumflex = left atrium and ventricle
- Right marginal = right ventricle and apex
What does the azygos system do and what structures drain into it?
The azygos vein transports deoxygenated blood from the posterior walls of the thorax and abdomen into the superior vena cava vein.
- What are the names of the three splanchnic nerves? What functions do they serve?
- greater splanchnic - supplies the foregut: T5-T9
- lesser splanchnic - supplies the midgut: T10-T11
- least splanchnic - supplies the hindgut: T12
2 If an object is inhaled into the trachea, in which lung would you most expect it to be lodged and why?
THE RIGHT
its more vertical and wider
where do the sympathetic nerves attach to the central nervous system
spinal cord
what forms the primitive heart tube
the endocardial tubes
summarise first breath and the closing of the heart shunts
- •First breaths of life → lungs expand → the alveoli in the lungs are cleared of fluid.
- An increase in the baby’s BP and a significant reduction in the pulmonary pressures reduces the need for the ductus arteriosus to shunt blood → closure of the shunt.
- These changes increase the pressure in the left atrium of the heart and decrease the pressure in the right atrium -> foramen ovale closes → newborn circulation.
where and when does the heart develop?
¢Heart develops in the cardiogenic region of the mesoderm in 18 days
three main layers of most blood vessel and their composition
[lumen]
- tunica intima
- inner most layer
- endothelial cells produce a slick surface for smooth blood flow
- one cell thick
- gets nutrients from the lumen
- tunica media
- middle layer
- mostly made of elastin, smooth muscle cells
- gets nutrients from the lumen
- tunica adventita / externum
- outermost layer
- loosely woven fibres of collagen and elastic
- protects and reinforces the vessel and serves as an anchor
- requires it’s own blood supply via vasa vasorum
name 5 types of blood vessel
- arteries
- arterioles
- veins
- venules
- capillaries
difference between arteries and veins
arteries have thicker walls and smaller lumens
BUT both have the same components, namely endothelium, smooth muscle elastic tissue and fibrous tissue
how many elastic membranes/ lamina are ther
2 - inernal and external
one in the tunica intima and the other between the tunica media and adventitia
where is the vasa vasorum found?
adventita
types of arteries
-
elastic arteries:
- lots of elastin in the tunica media and adventitia
- found close to the heart because
- allow arteries to expand and recoil
- absorb pressure
- form the largest arteries
- concentric sheets of elastin
-
muscular arteries
- have thick muscular walls
- carry blood to organs and tissues, thus are distributing arteries.
- The media is made up of smooth muscle and has little elastin
-
arterioles
- smallest arteries
- site of the most resistance
- have a thick tunica media
-
dilate and constrict in response to hormones and ANS
- regulate blood flow to organs
- allows for thermoregulation
- having 3 or less muscle layers in the media
how thick are capillaries and why
1 cell thick
minimal distance for gas exchange and nutrients exchange/ waste removal
which vessel has the widest lumen and which has the smallest
the veins have the widest
arteries are narrow but lumen varies in size with pulse of blood passing through.
capillaries v narrow - wide enough for 1 RBC
which vessels have valves and why
the veins, to prevent backflow of blood due to most of the pressure being lost
how does the structure of capillaries fit its function
- no strong walls needed as most BP has been lost
- thin walls for delivery and removal of products
- narrow lumen allows RBC to come into close contact with tissues cells thus aiding diffusion of materials
- WBCs are able to pass through the walls
how does the structure of veins fit its function
- wide lumen offers less resistance to blood flow
- thinner walls with less muscle as most BP is lost by now
- valves to prevent backflow due to low BP
how does the structure of arteries fit its function
- strength and elasticity needed to withstand and maintain the high pressure and pulsing of blood and to prevent bursting
- maintaining the high BP helps to prevent backflow, thus no valves needed
NAME A AND B
A= artery
B =vein
where are pericytes found
in capillaries and venules
describe a lymphatic vessel
- thin walled vessels
- similar to capillaries and veins and they have valves
- they don’t contain blood but contains lymph and may contain lymphocytes
- lymphocytes mainly found in the blood
what are the 3 main forms of muscle
- Smooth muscle
- skeletal muscle
- cardiac muscle
histological characteristics of smooth muscle
- individual fusiform cells with a central nucleus, no striations and is non-branching.
- Transverse sections appear polygonal
- longitudinal sections appear spindle shaped
features that allow smooth muscle contraction
- The cells are joined by electrically coupled gap junctions that permit a stimulus to pass rapidly through the muscle - electrical coupling.
- the smooth muscle cells are joined together
- They also have a number of surface receptors which allows them to respond to a variety of hormonal stimuli.
what are gap junctions
- 6 connexon proteins that span the cell membranes linking the interiors of adjacent muscle cells.
- they allow electrical coupling which is crucial for coordinated contraction of smooth muscle.
- also speeds up contraction as only one signal is needed
Differences between skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle
- cardiac striations aren’t as clear as skeletal
- cardiac myocytyes remain as individual cells throughout life therefore each one has a single nucleus positioned centrally
- smooth muscle also have central nuclei
- cardiac myocytes branch and connect to neighbours via intercalated discs (specialised intercellular connections)
- this join individual myocytes mechanically and chemically.
To help decide what type of muscle you’re looking at ask:
- is the muscle striated? NO = smooth muscle YES —>
- where are the Nuclei? EDGE = skeletal CENTRE = cardiac.
- double check its cardiac by looking for branching.
Features of the myocardial cells:
- striated - myofibrils are in register
- nuclei are centrally located
- single nucleus for each cardiac muscle cell
- branching fibres and
- intercalated discs - connections between myocytes to form long connecting chains. - only found in cardiac myocytes
intercalated discs contain:
- Gap junctions
- adhering junctions
- desmosomes
does the size of a myocyte affect its function
yes
the largest myocytes are found in the left ventricle as it has to work the hardest.