Heart Flashcards
Explain the 3-cog wheel depiction of the cardiovascular and vascular system.
- The 3-cogs represent the connection between the tissues, heart, and airways/lungs.
- If one clog is limited, this impacts the function of the others
- You need to have all 3 of these working in sync to deliver O2 to the mitochondria
Explain what is meant by the “heart is composed of 2 parallel pumps”. What does this mean in terms of right and left ventricular stroke volume?
- the R and L sides of the heart are separated by a continuous septum (atrial and ventricular)
- they are parallel but separate → pump at the same time
- atria contract synchronously, then the ventricles contract synchronously
- if they lose independence → pathology
Where are the valves located in the heart? What is their function?
- mitral/bicuspid AV valve (L): separates LA and LV
- tricuspid AV valve (R): b/w RA and RV
- pulmonary valve: b/w RV and pulmonary artery
- aortic valve: b/w LV and aorta
- ensure one-way blood flow and prevent backward/retrograde flow
Explain the impact of valvular dysfunction on both upstream and downstream CV physiology and anatomy.
- valvular dysfunction leads to back flow being possible (upstream) and a reduction of blood flowing through the heart (downstream)
- can allow for regurgitation and mixing of blood
- especially bad in the heart itself bc you can have a mix of oxygenated + deoxygenated blood
- chronic overfilling will lead to changes in anatomy at that chamber
- the resulting “bad seal” will overtax cardiac muscles and overtime could cause CHF
What is the function of the papillary muscles and when in the cardiac cycle do they contract?
- papillary muscles contract during ventricular contraction to oppose the pressure generated by the LV or RV
- they push the leaflets of the valves backwards up into the respective atria
- this prevents the backward flow of blood during ventricular contraction
- function: contract to keep valves CLOSED during systole
List the layers of the heart
- fibrous layer (fibrous pericardium)
- parietal pericardium
- pericardial cavity
- epicardium (aka visceral pericardium)
- myocardium
- endocardium
Describe the positioning of the heart in the thoracic cavity.
The heart is located in the mediastinum lying underneath the sternum towards the left side
When first touching the heart in your cadaver, what layer are you most likely touching?
- fibrous pericardium
- made up of dense connective tissue
- anatomic function = keep the heart from overfilling
What layers permit the heart to expand and contract with very little friction?
- pericardial cavity
- contains a small volume of fluid that allows parietal pericardium and visceral pericardium (epicardium) to easily move over one another
- fluid reduces friction and pain with contraction
Blood cells flowing through the heart would come in contact with what layer of the heart?
endocardium
Explain the ramifications of the large aerobic capacity of the heart.
- cardiac muscle cells require continuous O2 supply and constant blood flow
- if heart isn’t getting O2, it literally can’t function
Explain how cardiac muscle grades contractile strength and intrinsic beat rate. During your last heartbeat, how many cardiac muscle cells actively contracted?
- during any heartbeat: every cardiac muscle cell in the atria and the ventricles is contracted
- the heart can regulate its own beat rate
- HR can be regulated depending on workload of the heart
- strength of contraction (contractility) → will increase when SNS is stimulated
How many cardiac myocytes contracted the last time you were suddenly scared? Describe the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in this response.
- All of them
- SNS activity: increase HR 3-fold, increase strength of contraction up to 2-fold, increase plasma epinephrine; net effect = increase CO
- PNS: Activity of Parasympathetic nerves decreases HR
Define chronotropic. What is the impact of sympathetic innervation on the heart? Of parasympathetic innervation on the heart?
- chronotropic = affecting the heart rate
- Positive chronotropic effect → increases HR (sympathetic)
- Negative chronotropic effect → decreases HR (parasympathetic)
Assume that a wave of depolarization starts at the SA node. Describe the pathway that the wave will follow as it moves across and “down” the heart. What cells conduct this wave in the LV? What structure allows the signal to move from the atria into the ventricles?
- SA Node → AV Node → Bundle of His → R & L bundle branch → Purkinje Fibers
- Purkinje Fibers conduct the wave in the LV (conduct AP into the interior of the myocardium)
- AV Node allows the AP to move from atria to ventricles (slows down the signal to allow the completion of emptying the atria)
SA node has its own ____, so it allows for the heart to contract at its own rate, even without any outside ____
pacemaker; innervation
Describe the action potential found in cardiac myocytes. How does it differ from that found in skeletal muscle cells?
- Cardiac muscle: AP is conducted across the whole cardiac muscle due to intercalated disks, allowing the muscle to to act as one unit (longer, graded AP)
- Skeletal muscle: uses a recruitment process (shorter, all or none AP)
- Longer cardiac APs prevent tetanus (charlie horse) from happening in the heart
What is the absolute refractory period and what is its role in the cardiac cycle?
- time when another AP cannot be generated and heart cannot be induced to contract
- how we get max HR
What cardiac events are associated with the P, QRS, and T waves?
- P wave: atrial contraction (atrial depolarization)
- QRS complex: initiates contraction of the ventricle
- T wave: relaxation of ventricles (repolarization)
- EKG traces the currents of these waves
Define systole
- systole = contraction
- every heart chamber (atria, ventricles) experiences this
- smallest volume of blood in the heart here
Define ventricular diastole
- diastole = relaxation
- heart chambers fill with blood
- largest volume of blood in the heart here
Define EDV
- end diastolic volume
- volume of blood in a heart chamber at the end of diastole
- during diastole, chambers fill with blood, so EDV is as full as the chambers can get
Define ESV
- end systolic volume
- volume of blood in the heart chamber at the end of systole (after the contraction)
- heart is never completely empty during systole
Define isovolumetric contraction
- occurs during the first part of systole
- pressure is developing in each of the ventricles but no blood is flowing bc all the valves are closed
