CVS Flashcards
Which 3 factors increase the rate of diffusion?
Large surface area available for exchange, low diffusion resistance and a high concentration gradient.
What does the CVS include?
A pump (heart), a distribution system (vessels and blood), an exchange mechanism (capillaries) and a way to control flow (arterioles and pre-capillary sphyncters)
What is the perfusion rate?
The rate of blood flow
Properties of Cardiac muscle?
Striated, 1/2 central nuclei, intercalated disks (for electrical & mechanical coupling with adjacent cells), branching, gap junction (for electrical coupling), T-tubules in line with the z-line, sarcoplasmic reticulum and t-tubules form diad.
What are the two main arteries?
- Pulmonary trunk: from right ventricle splits into 2 pulmonary arteries to enter lungs.
- Aorta: arises from left ventricle, goes up then descends. 3 branches off the aorta to supply head and upper limbs (brachiocephalic, common-carotid and left subclavian arteries).
What happens during systole?
Left ventricle contracts, increasing blood pressure in aorta. Walls of aorta stretch.
What happens during diastole?
Aortic semilunar valve closes, walls of aorta recoil, as well as sub-endothelial layer of connective tissue.
What are the three layers that make up an artery?
- Tunica intima: endothelial cells parallel to axis of artery. Also sub-endothelial layer of connective tissue.
- Tunica media: 40-70 elastic membranes. Smooth muscle cells & Collagen. Also thin external elastic lamina.
- Tunica adventitia: thin layer of fibroelastic connective tissue with lymphatic and nerve vessels.
What are arterioles?
Arteries with a diameter of <0.1mm. They have only 1-3 layers of smooth muscle in their tunica media. With no external elastic lamina.
What are metarterioles?
They are arteries that supply blood to capillary beds. Their smooth muscle layer is not continuous. Individual muscle cells are spaced apart. Each muscle cell acts as a sphincter, controlling blood flow.
What is the role of lymphatic capillaries?
They drain away extracellular fluid, returning it to blood at junctions of the internal jugular and subclavian veins.
What are the 3 types of capillaries?
- Continuous: most common, cells joined by tight junctions e.g. in nervous tissue
- Fenestrated: There are windows in the thin parts of the endothelium that are covered by thin membrane e.g. in endocrine glands
- Sinusoidal: Slower blood flow, gaps in walls so whole cells can move between blood and tissue e.g. in the liver/spleen.
What are venules?
They have a diameter <1mm. Endothelium is associated with pericytes (on external surface to divide into muscle cells/fibroblasts). Valves prevent back-flow of blood.
What is the structure of a vein?
Larger diameter than accompanying artery & thinner wall. More connective tissue, fewer elastic and muscle fibres. Most do not have prominent tunica media.
What are Venae Comitantes?
Deep paired veins, accompanying one of the smaller arteries on each side of an artery. =3 vessels wrapped in one sheath.
What is the mediastinum?
The central compartment of the thoracic cavity. It contains all thoracic structures except the lungs. It is a highly mobile region. (bordered by thoracic spine, sternum, mediastinal pleura, thoracic inlet, diaphragm)
Where is the sternal angle of Louis?
It’s part of the sternum, inline with the 2nd ribs.
What is the structure of the Pericardium?
It is a closed sac with 2 layers. A tough, external fibrous layer and an inner serous membrane (which itself consists of 2 layers, the outer parietal layer and the inner visceral layer). Pericardial cavity is between the parietal and visceral layers.
What is cardiac tamponade?
When there is too much fluid in the pericardial cavity (pericardial effusion), which compresses the heart, not allowing it to expand fully. This is potentially lethal.
Where is the Oblique Sinus?
It lies behind the left atrium, between the 2 pairs of pulmonary veins.
Where is the Transverse Pericardial Sinus?
It passes underneath the aorta and the pulmonary trunk, and above the superior vena cava. In front of the left atrium.
What is the role of the Phrenic nerve?
Supplies the diaphragm and the pericardium.
What is the Vagus Nerve?
Supplies parasympathetic fibres to all organs, except adrenal glands. It is responsible for heart rate, digestion, sweating etc.
What is the route of blood through the heart?
Enters heart via inferior and superior vena cava, into the right atrium (deoxygenated blood). Blood then enters the right ventricle via the tricuspid valve. Blood then forced out into the pulmonary artery and to the lungs to be oxygenated. Pulmonary veins then empties blood into the left atrium, which then contracts, forcing blood into left ventricle, through the mitral valve. Post contraction, this blood is forced out to the rest of the body via the aorta.
Which coronary artery supplies the left ventricle?
The left anterior descending artery.
Which coronary artery supplies the right atrium?
The right coronary artery.
What is the role of the pacemaker cells?
Fires action potential which spreads over whole heart and produces a coordinated contraction. Pacemakers generate action potentials at regular intervals.
Describe the cardiac cycle
Pacemaker in SAN spreads impulse over atria. This reaches the AVN. Excitation spreads down septum between ventricles, then through ventricular myocardium from inner to outer surface. Ventricle then contracts from apex up, forcing blood towards outflow valves.
How long does ventricular systole last?
280ms
How long between one ventricular systole and the next?
700ms
What causes the A/V valves to close?
A brief backflow of blood from ventricles to atria closes these valves. = Isovolumetric Contraction.
What causes the 1st heart sound?
A/V valve closure. The onset of ventricular systole.
What causes the 2nd heart sound?
Outflow valve closure. End of ventricular systole.
What causes heart murmurs?
Turbulent blood flow caused by narrowing of valves (stenosis) or valves not closing properly.
How do you calculate cardiac output?
Stroke volume x heart rate = cardiac output (total volume pumped per minute)
Give two roles of embryological looping
Causing convolution of the heart tube, ensuring:
- primordium of right ventricle is near to outflow tract
- primordium of left ventricle is near to inflow tract.
what are the five sections of the primitive heart tube?
Aortic roots Truncus arteriosus Bulbus cordis Atria Sinus venosus
How does the oblique pericardial sinus form?
As LA expands, it absorbs the pulmonary veins and stretches out pericardial cavity.
What does RA develop from?
Most of the primitive atrium and sinus venosus.
What does the LA develop from
Small portion of primitive atrium and absorbs proximal parts of pulmonary veins.
Describe the route of blood through through fatal heart
Oxygenated blood from mother enters IVC via ductus venosus. This blood enters right atrium, and is then shunted to left atrium via the foramen ovale. This blood then goes via left ventricle to aorta to the fetal body. Deoxygenated blood then returns to placenta via the umbilical arteries.
What is the role of the ductus arteriosus?
Shunts blood that is used for muscle development from the pulmonary trunk to the aorta.
Which nerve is linked to the 6th arch of the aorta?
The recurrent laryngeal nerve that innervates intrinsic muscles of the larynx.
What happens after looping has taken place?
An atrioventricular canal links the atrium and ventricle.
What is the role of septation?
To create 4 chambers and to achieve selective outflow
Which three divisions of the heart must be formed?
An interatrial septum, an interventricular septum and septation of the ventricular outflow tract (to create pulmonary trunk and aorta).
Where do endocardial cushions develop during septation?
Between the primitive atria and primitive ventricle. Dividing the heart tube into left and right channels.
Describe the stages of atrial septation
- septum primum grows down towards the fused endocardial cushions. The gap between the two prior to fusion is called the ostium primum.
- before this fuses, a second hole, the ostium secundum appears due to apoptosis.
- a second septum, the septum secundum forms. The gap in this is called the foramen ovale. Which provides a shunt from R to L atrium.
Describe ventricular septation
The large muscular component grows upwards towards the fused endocardial cushions, leaving a small gap, the primary interventricular foramen. This is closed by tissue derived from the endocardial cushions that grows downwards (membranous ventricular septum).
Describe outflow tract septation
Endocardial cushions appear on the truncus arteriosus. They grow towards each other, twist around each other, forming a spiral septum. Creating a pulmonary trunk (from right ventricle) and an aorta (from left ventricle).
Why does the foramen ovale close at birth?
LA pressure > RA pressure so the septum primum is pushed against the septum secundum.
Why does the ductus venosus close at birth?
As the placental support is removed
What are the derivatives of the following embryological structures?:
- foramen ovale
- ductus arteriosus
- ductus venosus
- umbilical vein
- foramen ovale -> fossa ovalis
- ductus arteriosus -> ligamentum arteriosum
- ductus venosus -> ligamentum venosum
- umbilical vein -> ligamentum teres
Give three causes of congenital heart disease
- genetic e.g. Downs, turners, marfans.
- environmental e.g. Due to drugs/alcohol etc.
- maternal infections e.g. Rubella