CVS week 1 Flashcards
what are the surfaces of the heart
right pulmonary surface
anterior surface
posterior surface
left pulmonary surface
diaphragmatic surface
describe the chambers of the heart in relation to the heart surfaces
the right atrium is along the right pulmonary surface and posterior surface
the left atrium is along the posterior surface
the right ventricle is along the anterior surface and diaphragmatic surface
the left ventricle is along the anterior surface and diaphragmatic surface
describe the chambers of the heart in relation to the cardiac borders
the right border forms the right atrium
the left border forms the left ventricle
the inferior border forms the right ventricle
the superior border forms the right and left atria
describe the fibrous cardiac skeleton of the heart
dense fibrous connective tissue forming the ‘skeleton’ of the heart to allow attachment of the valves and electrical isolation in terms of cardiac conduction
contains the fibrous coronet (aortic and pulmonary valves) and fibrous rings (mitral and tricuspid valves)
describe the function of the right atrium
receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the IVC and SVC
describe the function of the right ventricle
receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium via the right atrioventricular opening, which is then pumped into the pulmonary circulatory system via the pulmonary artery
describe the function of the left atrium
receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the 4 pulmonary veins
describe the function of the left ventricle
receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium via the left atrioventricular opening, which is then pumped into the systemic circulatory system via the aorta
describe the function of the atrioventricular (AV) valves
the tricuspid valve prevents back flow of blood into the right atrium from the right ventricle
the mitral valve prevents the back flow of blood into the left atrium from the left ventricle
how is eversion of the AV valves prevented
both AV valves are connected to papillary muscles via cordae tendinae, preventing the valves from collapsing in on themselves
describe the function of the semilunar (SL) valves
the aortic valve prevents back flow into the left ventricle from the aorta
the pulmonary valve prevents back flow into the right ventricle from the pulmonary trunk
why do cardiomyocytes have a high cell to capillary ratio
they have a high oxygen demand
where are the orifices of the coronary arteries located
above the aortic valve
the source of the posterior interventricular artery and posterior left ventricular artery determines…
whether the coronary circulation has a balanced distribution, left coronary dominance or right coronary dominance
describe the left coronary artery
ostium in left coronary sinus
runs b/w posterior part of pulmonary trunk and left auricle
gives rise to the LAD and left circumflex
describe the left anterior descending (LAD) artery
anastomoses w posterior interventricular artery
supplies 2/3 of interventricular septum
supplies adjacent left and right ventricles
gives off lateral branch
describe the left circumflex artery
runs along the coronary sulcus
gives off left marginal branch (supplies LV)
occasionally posterior left ventricular branch
describe the right coronary artery
ostium in right coronary sinus
runs along sulcus b/w right side pulmonary trunk and right auricle
gives rise to right marginal branch, AV nodal branch, posterior interventricular branch
what does the right marginal branch supply
adjacent right ventricle
what does the AV nodal branch supply
AV node
what does the posterior interventricular branch supply
1/3 of posterior interventricular septum
adjacent left and right ventricles
in a normal balanced distribution of the coronary circulation, what does the LEFT coronary artery supply
LV
LA
part of RV
2/3 interventricular septum
AV bundle
SA node (in 40% of ppl)
in a normal balanced distribution of the coronary circulation, what does the RIGHT coronary artery supply
most of RV
RA
diaphragmatic part of LV
1/3 interventricular septum
AV node (80% of ppl)
SA node (60% of ppl)
when is coronary perfusion at its highest
during diastole
what factors regulate vascular diameter
autoregulation
metabolic factors
endocrine molecules
autonomic innervation
physical factors
endothelial factors
what is autoregulation of vascular diameter
maintenance of blood flow in response to different perfusion pressures
what are examples of endothelial factors affecting vascular diameter
NO
PGI2
EDHF
ET
outline sympathetic innervation of coronary arteries
innervation of conduction system, coronary arteries, cardiomyocytes
pre-ganglionic fibres from lateral horn of spinal cord
post-ganglionic fibres from 3 cervical ganglia and sympathetic chain
outline parasympathetic innervation of coronary arteries
innervation of conduction system and coronary arteries
pre-ganglionic fibres w cell bodies in vagal nuclei of brainstem and travel w vagus nerve
post-ganglionic fibres from neurons of cardiac plexus
what two factors impact blood flow through a vessel
pressure gradient (difference in pressure b/w two ends of a vessel)
vascular resistance (impediment to flow through a vessel)
what is Ohm’s law
flow = pressure gradient / resistance
what are the two types of blood flow typically observed
laminar flow
turbulent flow
what is laminar blood flow
blood flows in streamlines with each layer remaining the same distance from the vessel wall
highest velocity in centre of vessel
lowest velocity along vessel wall
what is turbulent blood flow
blood flow is disorderly, flowing crosswise in the vessel
increases resistance and energy required to maintain flow
when does flow become turbulent
rate of flow too high
blood passes an obstruction or makes sharp turn
blood passes over a rough surface
what is reynold’s number
tendency for turbulence to occur
how is reynold’s number calculated
(velocity x diameter x density) / viscosity
what are 5 factors affecting vascular resistance
vessel diameter
vessel length
organisation of vascular network
characteristics of blood
extravascular mechanical forces
what is vascular conductance
measure of blood flow through a blood vessel for a given pressure gradient
it is proportional to the fourth power of the diameter
it is highly sensitive to variations in vessel diameter
increases in resistance will reduce vascular conductance (vice versa)
how is vascular conductance calculated
conductance = 1 / resistance
what does poiseuille’s equation illustrate and what is the equation
it basically highlights that pressure, vessel radius, blood viscosity, and vessel length are all key factors that influence blood flow
flow = (pi x pressure gradient x fourth power radius) / (8 x viscosity x length)
What are 3 features of the coronary circulation
High O2 consumption
High resting O2 extraction
Limited anaerobic capacity
Adjustments to supply of O2 to the cardiac muscle is primarily governed by changes in…
Coronary vasomotor tone
What is the influence of PO2 in terms of coronary blood flow
Venous PO2 acts as an estimate for myocardial tissue PO2
Hence, a greater O2 demand would potentially decrease coronary venous PO2
A decreased PO2 results in an increase in CBF
What are 5 metabolic vasodilatory influences released during periods of high cardiac metabolic demand
PCO2
H+
K+
Adenosine
PO2
What is the effect of adrenergic alpha receptors and where are they located
They have a vasoconstrictory effect
Located mostly in larger, upstream epicardial vessels
What is the effect of adrenergic beta receptors and where are they located
They have a vasodilatory effect
Located mostly within small, intramuscular vessels
What is the effect of endothelial NO on coronary blood flow
NO production is stimulated by endothelial shear stress
It results in a vasodilatory effect
Its effect is greatest under conditions of reduced perfusion pressure e.g ischemia
Describe regulation of coronary blood flow under physiological stress
Parallel mechanisms act to increase CBF
This means that no single mechanism is mandatory but they can also work in conjunction to produce larger effects and can also have a compensatory effect when one mechanism is blocked/inhibited
What are 2 determinants of coronary blood flow
Coronary perfusion pressure
Coronary vasomotor tone
Outline how extravascular influences impact coronary blood flow
Compressive forces generated during LV contraction reduces CBF, more so in the endocardium than the epicardium, resulting in an increased CBF during diastole compared to systole
what are the 3 general stages of plaque formation in atherosclerosis
- initiation of atherosclerosis - inflammation
- mid stage atherosclerosis - switch from acute to chronic inflammation
- late stage atherosclerosis - less of an impact of vascular inflammation
what are 5 triggers of endothelial injury
physical injury or stress
turbulent blood flow
circulating reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
hyperlipidaemia
chronically elevated blood sugar levels
what happens during the initiation stage of atherosclerosis
damage to endothelium which leads to the upregulation of adhesion molecules such as selectins, chemokines, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1
then, LDLs to enter the intimal layer
then, the LDLs are oxidised into ox-LDL
then, due to the selectins, chemokines, integrins and CAMs, monocytes are attracted to the site of endothelial injury
then, the chemokines allow the monocytes to enter the intimal layer too via endothelial transmigration
then, the monocytes differentiate into macrophages
then, the macrophages phagocytose the ox-LDL
then, they continue to take up ox-LDL which leads to the formation of foam cells
what happens during the mid stage atherosclerosis
macrophages continue to take up LDL in unregulated manner which leads to apoptosis of themselves
then, macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g interleukins and chemokines) and sets up a chronic inflammation process
then, smooth muscle cells migrate from the vessel wall into the plaque
then, these SMCs secrete collagen in an effort to form a fibrous cap on the developing plaque to stabilise it
then, neovessels start to invade the plaque
what happens during late stage atherosclerosis
the size of the lipid core grows continually
then, the fibrous cap becomes unstable, mainly at their shoulder regions
then, there is increased BP at this site due to increased plaque size, which can trigger the plaque to rupture
then, the contents of the plaque are released into the blood stream which can lead to MI or stroke
then, a thrombus forms, which further occludes the vessel