🫀CVS Medicine Flashcards
What are the main components of the cardiovascular system?
Heart
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Which system is the cardiovascular system closely associated with?
The respiratory system
What happens when any component of the cardiovascular system is impaired?
It results in cardiovascular system (CVS) disease
What are the two main circulations the heart pumps blood to?
Pulmonary circulation
Systemic circulation
Which side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, and through which vessel?
The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
Which side of the heart pumps blood to the systemic circulation, and through which vessel?
The left side of the heart pumps blood to the systemic circulation through the aorta.
What is the myocardium?
Heart muscle
How many chambers does the heart have? Name them.
The heart has 4 chambers:
Right atrium
Right ventricle
Left atrium
Left ventricle
What are the four heart valves and their locations?
Aortic valve: Between the left ventricle (LV) and the aorta.
Pulmonary valve: Between the right ventricle (RV) and pulmonary artery.
Tricuspid valve: Between the right atrium (RA) and RV.
Mitral (bicuspid) valve: Between the left atrium (LA) and LV.
What system regulates the heartbeat and coordinates contractions of the heart?
The electrical conduction system.
Name the key components of the heart’s electrical conduction system.
Sinoatrial (SA) node
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Bundle of His
Purkinje fibers
What type of blood do arteries typically carry, and in which direction?
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
What type of blood do veins typically carry, and in which direction?
Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
What happens when blood vessels narrow and what are the consequences?
Narrowing of vessels results in impaired blood flow to and away from tissues.
cons:
Reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues.
Reduced waste removal from tissues.
What is atherosclerosis?
A condition where fatty deposits (plaques) accumulate in the walls of arteries.
What effect does atherosclerosis have on arteries?
It causes stiffening and narrowing of the arteries, a condition called stenosis.
Name four non-modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Older age
Male
Family history of CVD
Ethnicity
Name at least five modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension
Obesity
Diabetes
High lipid levels
Smoking
Alcohol
Stress
Poor sleep
What are the key contributors to the formation of plaques in atherosclerosis?
1.Vessel wall damage
2.High LDL cholesterol levels
3.High circulating glucose (diabetes)
4.Immune cell activity
What are two common causes of vessel wall damage that contribute to atherosclerosis?
1.Hypertension (high blood pressure)
2.Smoking
What is hypertension?
High blood pressure, defined as a reading consistently above 140/90 mmHg.
What are the complications of untreated hypertension?
Atherosclerosis
Chronic kidney disease
Heart failure
Stroke
Retinopathy
Vascular dementia
List non-modifiable risk factors for hypertension.
Age
Gender
Ethnicity (e.g., black African, black Caribbean)
Family history (genetic predisposition)
List modifiable risk factors for hypertension.
Smoking
Alcohol excess
High dietary salt intake
Obesity
Lack of physical exercise
Anxiety
Emotional stress
Caffeine consumption