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Foundation Year MBChB > CVS: Anatomy and Physiology > Flashcards

CVS: Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What is physiology?

A

The science which describes the function of cells, and the organisational and functional relationships between cells, tissue, organs, and body systems

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2
Q

What are homeostasis and allostasis?

A

Homeostasis is the body responding to feedback from the environment
Allostasis is the same as homeostasis BUT in anticipation of what should occur

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3
Q

What is associated with feedback and feedforwad?

A

The stimulation of sensors and receptors

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4
Q

Why is physiological variation important?

A

Looking at extremes in regards to genotype/phenotype, allowing a range to be used to consider what is normal

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5
Q

What is the significance of the “normal range” regarding physiology?

A

Any physiological variation that falls within the range is considered normal, and anything outside of the range is abnormal

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6
Q

What are some factors that can be included in physiological variation?

A

Heart size, haemoglobin, blood pressure, etc.

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7
Q

Are physiological norms constant?

A

No physiological norms change throughout life course (foetal, neonatal, childhood, adolescent, adulthood)

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8
Q

How can physiological norms change?

A

In response to the stimulus, e.g., continued exposure to stimulus like stress leads to an increased resting BP

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9
Q

What are other causes of physiological adaptations?

A

Healthy lifestyles and diseases

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10
Q

Which system does the cardiovascular system (CVS) work with?

A

Cardiorespiratory system (CRS)
However all bodily systems work together and are not isolated

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11
Q

What would happen if one bodily system was incorrectly functioning?

A

As all bodily systems work together, this would cause a domino effect therefore the other systems are also affected e.g., if there are respiratory problems CVS tries to compensate for oxygen loss

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12
Q

What is the physiological role of the CVS?

A

Electrical conduction of the heart
Distributes leukocytes (white blood cells) and so helps the immune system
Oxygen distribution
Nutrient distribution
Regulates temperature
Platelets are distributed, therefore allowing scabs to form (protect against pathogens entering from wounds)
Blood transport
Hormone transport

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13
Q

What are the components of the cardiovascular system?

A

Heart
Veins and venules (venous system)
Arteries and arterioles (arterial system)
Capillaries

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14
Q

What would the site of a venipuncture be and what would the blood composition be?

A

Vein (median cubital, cephalic or basilic vein)
Venous blood (deoxygenated blood)

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15
Q

What would the site of an arterial blood sample be and what would the blood composition be?

A

Artery (radial or femoral artery)
Arterial blood (oxygenated blood)

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16
Q

What would the site be for a finger-tip and what would the blood composition be?

A

Capillary (second and third finger)
Mixed venous-arterial blood

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17
Q

What would the site for a heel-prick be and what would the blood composition be?

A

Capillary (medial or lateral surface)
Mixed venous-arterial blood

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18
Q

When do arterioles and venules form?

A

Further from the heart; veins and arteries become smaller and divide into venules and arterioles

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19
Q

What is the main function of a capillary?

A

Sites of exchange e.g., oxygen diffusion

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20
Q

What is an example of a capillary bed function?

A

Capillary bed–> venules–> heart–>oxygen

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21
Q

What is the difference between arterial and venous blood?

A

Varying blood concentrations

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22
Q

What is the benefit of a finger-tip blood prick?

A

Can obtain the [blood glucose] from the capillary blood from the capillary blood

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23
Q

What is the importance of the heel-prick test for infants?

A

Allows for screening of diseases and conditions
Good supply of capillary beds

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24
Q

Where is the usual site of arterial blood taken?

A

Radial artery- the wrist

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25
What are some key differences between the veins and arteries?
Arteries are more sensitive than veins Arteries are smaller than veins (also have a smaller lumen)
26
What are the features of the heart?
Superior Vena Cava (deoxygenated blood to the right of the heart) Pulmonary vein Right Atrium Tricuspid Valve (right atrioventricular valve) Right Ventricle Aorta Pulmonary Artery Left Atrium Mitral Valve (left atrioventricular valve) Left Ventricle
27
How can the left ventricle be differentiated form the right ventricle?
The left ventricle has thicker muscle walls
28
What is the myocardium and what are some of the key features?
Myocardium is a muscle layer of the heart Thickest layer Specialised muscle tissue Composed of cardiomyocytes and intercalated discs Striated Involuntary movement
29
What is the endocardium?
Inner endothelial lining covering trabeculae Comes after the myocardium
30
What is the serous pericardium?
Visceral layer Epicardium Comes before the myocardium and the endocardium
31
What is the pericardium composed of?
Fibrous pericardium Serous pericardium (parietal layer) Space between serous pericardium (parietal layer) and the serous pericardium (visceral layer)
32
What is pericarditis?
Inflammation of the pericardium
33
What occurs to the action potential during electrophysiology?
Action potential is initiated at the SA (Sino-atrial) node (SA has a lower threshold potential difference than the rest of the rest of the heart) Spreads across atria (right atrium first); atria contract therefore in atria systole (insulating layer of fat to delay conduction of the action potential, so the atria can completely empty) Received at the AV (atrioventricular) node and conducted to base of the heart Diverted down Bundle of His and travels down the septum Travels along the bundle branches Conducted by Purkinje fibres Spreads across the ventricles, causes contraction of the heart from the apex upwards Ventricular systole
34
What occurs in order for ventricular systole to occur?
Articular diastole
35
What are the peaks in an ECG called?
P wave PR interval QRS complex ST segment T wave QT interval (U wave)
36
What does an isoelectric line represent on an ECG?
Pointing down: away from node (negative) Pointing up: towards node (positive)
37
What does the P wave represent on an ECG?
Atrial depolarisation (atrial systole) Voltage (height of graph) and voltage direction (line)
38
What does the PR interval represent on an ECG?
Time between the onset of depolarisation in the atria and the onset of depolarisation in the ventricles
39
What does the QRS complex represent on an ECG?
Ventricular depolarisation
40
What does the ST segment represent on an ECG?
Plateau phase of ventricular depolarisation
41
What does the T wave represent on an ECG?
Ventricular repolarisation
42
What does the QT interval represent on an ECG?
Ventricular depolarisation and repolarisation
43
What does the U wave represent on an ECG?
Normal component of the surface ECG represents the delayed repolarisation of the Purkinje network, seen at the same time as early after depolarisation in patients with a prolonged QT interval and TdP
44
What are the physiological roles of blood?
Transport of: nutrients (e.g., CHO, FAT, PRO), gases (e.g., oxygen, carbon dioxide), heat (e.g., thermoregulation), water (e.g., hydration), etc. Blood clots: forming blood clots (coagulation) to prevent excess blood loss during injury Immunity: transporting cells and antibodies to prevent and fight infection (e.g., leukocytes)
45
What is the composition of blood?
Haematocrit (45%): erythrocytes (red blood cells) Buffy coat (<1%): leukocytes (white blood cells) and platelets Plasma (55%): water, proteins, other solutes (e.g., ions, gases)
46
What percentage of the total body weight does blood make?
8% blood 92% tissues and other fluids
47
What is the composition of the haematocrit, buffy coat and the plasma?
Haematocrit Erythrocytes: >99% Buffy Coat: Platelets: <1% Leukocytes: <1% Plasma: Proteins: 7% Water: 91% Other Solutes: 2%
48
What is the composition of proteins present in the plasma?
Albumins: 57% Globulins: 38% Fibrinogen: 4% Prothrombin: 1%
49
What are the other solutes present in the plasma?
Ions Nutrients Waste Products Gases Regulatory substances
50
What is the composition of leukocytes in the buffy coat?
Neutrophils: 60%-70% Lymphocytes: 20%-25% Monocytes: 3%-8% Eosinophils: 2%-4% Basophils: 0.5%-1%
51
What is the normal blood haematocrit?
Females: 37%-47% Males: 42%-52%
52
When is anaemia identified?
When the haematocrit <45% erythrocytes
53
When is polycythaemia identified?
When the haematocrit >45% erythrocytes
54
Where are erythrocytes produced?
In the bone marrow and are regulated by EPO (erythropoietin) hormone
55
What are some features of erythrocytes?
Biconcave shape Large surface area 7.5 um in length 2.5 um in width Each RBC contains haemoglobin (280 million Hb molecules)
56
What is the main feature of haemoglobin and why is it useful?
Each Hb molecule has 4 binding sites 4 x 280 million> 1 billion O2 molecules
57
Why is carbon monoxide a threat in regards to Hb?
Hb has a higher affinity for CO than O2, therefore, CO will associate more with Hb than O2 leading to oxygen deprivation
58
How can hypoxaemia trigger homeostasis?
Hypoxaemia: deteriorated [Oxygen] in blood as of insufficient oxygen transport (results in blotched skin) Detected by liver and kidneys Secretion of EPO Stimulation of red bone marrow Accelerated erythropoiesis Increased RBC count Increased oxygen transport
59
What is blood pressure?
The force of circulated blood on the walls of the arteries during contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole)
60
What are the two main types of blood pressure and what are they at resting conditions?
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) Normotensive SBP <140 mmHg Normotensive DBP <90 mmHg
61
What is the value of a normal pulse pressure and what is its formula?
40 mmHg Systolic pressure - Diastolic pressure= pulse pressure E.g., 120/80 mmHg--> 120-80= 40 mmHg
62
What is the trend in blood pressure across the circulatory system?
Blood leaves the heart at highest blood pressure at aorta after leaving Left Ventricle BP decreases across elastic arteries, muscular arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, medium and large veins BP lowest at vena cave before entering Right Atrium
63
Why does the BP decrease as blood leaves the left ventricle?
Blood pressure decreases as cross-sectional area and diameter increase, due to resistance decreasing
64
What is mean arterial pressure?
The average of the SBP and DBP
65
What is total peripheral resistance and what are the factors that affect it?
Blood cells and plasma encounter resistance as they travel through blood vessels. This resistance is due to contact with vessel walls. Affected by: blood vessel diameter, blood viscosity and blood vessel length
66
What does high resistance mean?
More pressure is required to keep blood moving
67
What attributes to low/small peripheral resistance?
Low viscosity Shorter vessel length Larger vessel diameter
68
What attributes to high/large peripheral resistance?
High viscosity Larger vessel length Shorter vessel diameter
69
Why does a longer vessel length contribute to a higher peripheral resistance?
Longer length means more collisions, and so more resistance is generated
70
What are some physiological factors to note that affect total peripheral resistance?
* Cardiac output (CO=Heart Rate x Stroke Volume) (e.g. stress, physical activity) * Volume of circulating blood (e.g. fluid intake, salt intake, blood glucose) * Viscosity (thickness) of blood * Elasticity of vessels walls (e.g. age, general health) * Peripheral vascular resistance * Other physiological factors
71
What are hypertension and hypotension?
Hypertension is an elevated blood pressure that helps with blockages Hypotension is a decreased blood pressure
72
What is a common occurrence of both hyper- and hypotension?
Increased risk of heart disease, kidney damage and stroke (heart attack in the brain) Similar structures are vulnerable to both hypertension and hypotension, although for different reasons
73
What are some lifestyle factors that can affect blood pressure?
Smoking Physical activity Alcohol consumption Stress Overweight and obesity Caffeine consumption Sleep disturbances

Foundation Year MBChB (28 decks)

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