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Heart Flashcards

Learn sequence, vocab, and structure of heart physiology

1
Q

What is the primary role of the cardiovascular system?

A

To get blood to tissues

The cardiovascular system’s key job is to maintain optimal blood pressure/flow to tissues.

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2
Q

List the three main functions of the cardiovascular system.

A
  • Transportation: gases, nutrients, waste
  • Regulation: hormonal and temperature
  • Protection: clotting, healing, immunity
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3
Q

What are the four components of the cardiovascular system?

A
  • Blood
  • Heart
  • Blood vessels
  • Lymphatic system
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4
Q

What is the average adult blood volume?

A

About 5 liters

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5
Q

What type of blood is bright red and oxygenated?

A

Arterial blood

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6
Q

What type of blood is dark red and deoxygenated?

A

Venous blood

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7
Q

What percentage of blood volume is made up of formed elements?

A

45%

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8
Q

What is the primary fluid component of blood?

A

Plasma

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9
Q

What is the function of albumin in blood plasma?

A

Creates osmotic pressure to help draw water from tissues back into capillaries

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10
Q

What do globulins transport?

A
  • Alpha and beta globulins: transport lipids and fat-soluble vitamins
  • Gamma globulins: antibodies that function in immunity
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11
Q

What is the primary function of erythrocytes?

A

To carry oxygen

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12
Q

How many hemoglobin molecules are contained in each red blood cell?

A

Around 280 million

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13
Q

What is anemia?

A

A condition where RBC count or hemoglobin content is low, reducing oxygen delivery to tissues

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14
Q

What is the normal RBC count per microliter of blood?

A

About 5 million

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15
Q

What is the lifespan of a red blood cell?

A

About 120 days

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16
Q

What are cardiomyocytes?

A

Heart muscle cells that make up the walls of the heart

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17
Q

What are intercalated discs?

A

Connections between cardiomyocytes that allow electrical signals to pass directly from one cell to the next

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18
Q

What triggers the contraction of cardiac muscle cells?

A

Action potentials

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19
Q

What is the role of the SA node?

A

Initiates the action potential, starting the contraction

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20
Q

What does an ECG measure?

A

The spread of electrical activity in the heart

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21
Q

What does the P wave on an ECG represent?

A

Atrial depolarization

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22
Q

What is the QRS complex on an ECG indicative of?

A

Ventricular depolarization

23
Q

What happens during the ST segment on an ECG?

A

Ventricular muscle cells are fully depolarized

24
Q

What is the sequence of electrical activation of the heart?

A
  • SA node
  • Atrial cells
  • AV node
  • Bundle of His
  • Purkinje fibers
  • Ventricles
25
What is the pathway of blood flow through the heart starting from the right atrium?
* Right atrium * Right ventricle * Pulmonary artery * Lungs * Left atrium * Left ventricle * Aorta
26
What are the atrioventricular (AV) valves?
* Tricuspid valve: right atrium → right ventricle * Bicuspid (mitral) valve: left atrium → left ventricle
27
What is the function of the semilunar valves?
Prevent backflow of blood from the arteries into the ventricles
28
What is the role of the fibrous skeleton of the heart?
Separates atria from ventricles and forms annuli fibrosi rings to hold heart valves in place
29
What is pulmonary circulation?
Heart → Lungs → Heart (Deoxygenated → Oxygenated Blood)
30
What is systemic circulation?
Heart → Body → Heart (Oxygenated → Deoxygenated Blood)
31
True or False: An ECG measures the membrane potential within a cardiac myocyte undergoing an action potential.
FALSE
32
What is the role of acetylcholinesterase?
Terminates the acetylcholine signal
33
What happens when sympathetic activation occurs?
* Increased cardiac output via Beta 1 * Bronchodilation via Beta 2 * Vasoconstriction via Alpha 1
34
What happens to a valve when the pressure is higher on the leading side?
The valve will open, allowing blood to move from one chamber to the next or out to the arteries.
35
What causes a valve to close?
The pressure on the leading side drops lower than the pressure on the other side.
36
Why is the one-way function of heart valves crucial?
It allows blood to flow in the correct direction without leaking backward.
37
What produces the 'Lub' sound in the heart?
Closing of the left and right atrioventricular (AV) valves (tricuspid and mitral valves).
38
When does the 'Lub' sound occur?
At the start of ventricular systole and the end of ventricular diastole.
39
What is the significance of the 'Lub' sound?
It signals the beginning of ventricular contraction and the closure of the AV valves.
40
What produces the 'Dub' sound in the heart?
Closing of the aortic and pulmonic semilunar valves.
41
When does the 'Dub' sound occur?
At the end of ventricular systole and the beginning of ventricular diastole.
42
What is the significance of the 'Dub' sound?
It marks the end of ventricular contraction and the closure of the semilunar valves.
43
What does the cardiac cycle refer to?
The repeated cycle of events in the heart that includes systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation).
44
What happens during systole?
The heart muscle contracts, generating high pressure and forcing blood into the arteries.
45
What happens during diastole?
The heart muscle relaxes, allowing the ventricles to fill with blood from the atria.
46
What occurs during the isovolumetric contraction phase?
The ventricles contract with all valves closed, and no blood is ejected.
47
What is the pressure in the ventricles during ventricular ejection?
High pressure as blood is pumped out of the ventricles into the arteries.
48
What indicates the end of the ventricular ejection phase?
The pressure in the ventricles exceeds the pressure in the arteries, opening the semilunar valves.
49
What happens during isovolumetric relaxation?
The ventricles relax, and all valves are closed, with no blood entering or leaving.
50
Fill in the blank: During ventricular filling, the pressure in the ventricles is _______.
very low
51
List the four phases of the cardiac cycle.
* Ventricular Filling (Diastole) * Isovolumetric Contraction (Systole) * Ventricular Ejection (Systole) * Isovolumetric Relaxation (Diastole)
52
What happens to the blood volume in the ventricles during systole?
The volume of blood in the ventricles decreases as blood is pumped out.
53
What happens to the blood volume in the ventricles during diastole?
The volume of blood in the ventricles increases as blood flows in.
54
True or False: The cardiac cycle consists of only systole.
False

Heart physio (3 decks)

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