Exam 2 Flashcards
What is a PVC?
When the heart contracts prematurely / extrasystole
How are parasympathetic impulses transmitted from the brain to the heart?
Cardioinhibitory center sends impulses through the vagus nerve to decrease HR
How are sympathetic impulses transmitted from the brain to the heart?
The cardioacceleratory center sends impulses through the sympathetic trunk - stimulates the SA node, AV node, myocardium, and the coronary arteries to increase HR and contractility
How do these autonomic systems change the heart rate?
Through the cardiac centers in the medulla oblongata
What does the PNS do to HR?
Can decelerate it
What is the role of artificial pacemakers?
Medical devices that decouple the atria and ventricles - can be programmed to change with changing energy demands and interrogates to with symptoms appear
What is partial heart block?
Only some impulses get through
What is total heart block?
No impulses get through, the ventricles beat at their own intrinsic rate - too slow for adequate tissue perfusion
Why can a PVC feel like a thud in the chest?
Afterwards, the heart has a slightly longer time to fill and the next normal contraction feels like a thud with more fluid
What is an ICD?
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator, devices that continually monitor heart rhythms, they will slow tachycardia and emit an electrical shock in the event of fibrillation
What is defibrillation?
electrically shocking the heart to depolarize the entire myocardium - ideally, the SA node begins to function normally and sinus rhythm is restored
What is fibrillation?
Rapid or irregular contractions of the heart
control of heart by SA node is disrupted
Fibrillation ventricles are not useful pumps
What is an arrhythmia?
Irregular heart rhythm resulting from a defect in the intrinsic conduction system
What is the intrinsic rate set by the AV bundle/Purkinje fibers?
30 beats per min
What is the intrinsic rate set by the AV node?
50 beats per min
What is the intrinsic rate set by the SA node?
75 beats per min
What is the only electrical connection between the atria and ventricles?
AV bundle
Why is there a delay at the AV node?
It allows the atria to complete their contraction
How long does it take an impulse to pass through the entire heart?
0.22s or 220ms
What is the sequence of excitation of the heart?
Sinoatrial node (SA Node)
Atrioventricular node (AV node)
AV bundle / Bundle of His
Right and left bundle branches
Punkinje fibers (subendocardial conducting network)
What is repolarization?
K+ channels open, K+ effluxes, cell’s interior becomes more negative
What is depolarization?
Ca2+ channels open (around -40mV), Ca2+ influxes leading to an AP
What is the intrinsic conduction system?
Noncontractile cells specialized to initiate and distribute impulses throughout the heart
What is the difference between cardiac myocytes and cardiac muscle regarding aerobic respiration?
cardiac myocytes are dense in mitochondria reflecting a great dependence on oxygen
Cardiac muscle is more adaptable to using different nutrient sources as fuel