HRR: Receptors Of The Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are ionotropic agents?
Compounds that change intracellular calcium
Ionotropic agents influence the strength of heart muscle contractions.
What is the difference between positive and negative inotropes?
Positive inotropes increase contraction, while negative inotropes decrease contraction
This classification is based on their effect on the force of cardiac muscle contractions.
What are chronotropic agents?
Compounds with a direct influence on heart rate
Chronotropic agents can either increase or decrease heart rate.
What is the most numerous cell type in the heart?
Fibroblasts
Fibroblasts are crucial for the structural integrity of the heart.
What are the most voluminous cells in the heart?
Myocytes
Myocytes are responsible for the contractile function of the heart.
What is the function of endothelial cells in the heart?
They line blood vessels and the endocardium
Endothelial cells play a key role in vascular health and function.
What are pacemaker cells?
They allow for automaticity; they’re found in the SA and AV nodes
Pacemaker cells regulate the heart’s rhythm.
What are Purkinje fibers?
They’re part of the conduction system and utilize connexin 40 to communicate with each other and surrounding myocytes
Purkinje fibers facilitate rapid conduction of electrical impulses.
What kind of junction connects cardiomyocytes?
Gap junctions; this allows for coordinated contraction
Gap junctions enable electrical coupling between heart muscle cells.
Can cardiac muscle be tetanized?
No
Cardiac muscle’s inability to tetanize is crucial for its function and prevents prolonged contraction.
Where in the vasculature do we find adrenergic receptors?
Tunica media
Adrenergic receptors are involved in the regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure.
What is the relevant ion channel type in the heart?
Voltage-gated
Voltage-gated ion channels are crucial for generating action potentials in cardiac tissue.
What is an electrical sensor in an ion channel?
A transmembrane helix that responds to changes in charge of the membrane and changes the shape of the pore in the ion channel
These sensors enable the channel to open or close in response to voltage changes.
Where do we find baroreceptors, and what do they do?
The aortic arch and carotid bifurcation; they sense stretch
Baroreceptors play a key role in regulating blood pressure by detecting changes in vessel wall stretch.
Where do we find chemoreceptors, and what do they do?
In the carotid/aortic bodies; they monitor pH, CO2, O2 levels
Chemoreceptors are essential for respiratory and cardiovascular regulation.
What nerves are associated with baroreceptors and chemoreceptors?
Vagal and glossopharyngeal
These nerves transmit sensory information from baroreceptors and chemoreceptors to the central nervous system.
What areas of the heart are most innervated by the autonomic nervous system?
SA and AV nodes; innervation of the ventricles is sparse
The SA and AV nodes are crucial for regulating heart rate and rhythm.
What is the major adrenergic receptor in the heart?
B1
B1 receptors are primarily responsible for increasing heart rate and contractility.