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CRLS (CLB) > Intro to CVS & general principles > Flashcards

Intro to CVS & general principles Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system (CVS)?

A

Transport, Defence, Haemostasis, Thermoregulation

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2
Q

What substances does the CVS transport to cells?

A

O2 and substrates

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3
Q

What does the CVS remove from cells?

A

CO2 and metabolites

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4
Q

What role does the CVS play in defence?

A

Immune cells and molecules in blood

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5
Q

What is the function of haemostasis in the CVS?

A

Blood clotting mechanism

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6
Q

What mechanisms are involved in thermoregulation by the CVS?

A

Vasodilation and vasoconstriction

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7
Q

What are the main components of the CVS?

A

Heart, Blood vessels, Blood, Spleen

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8
Q

What is the primary role of the heart in the CVS?

A

Pump

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9
Q

What is the approximate composition of blood?

A
  • Solid (cells) ~45%
  • Fluids (plasma) ~55%
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10
Q

What is the function of the spleen in the CVS?

A

Large flat organ caudal to the diaphragm

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11
Q

How many chambers does the heart have in mammals?

A

4

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12
Q

What are the two types of pumps in the heart?

A
  • 2 atria ‘primer’ pumps
  • 2 ventricles ‘power’ pumps
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13
Q

What controls the contraction of the heart?

A

An intrinsic pacemaker and regulated by the autonomic nervous system

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14
Q

What marks the left ventricle of the heart?

A

Apex

The apex is the pointed end of the heart that indicates the position of the left ventricle.

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15
Q

What separates the heart chambers externally?

A

Fat-filled grooves

These grooves are important for the physical structure and organization of the heart.

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16
Q

What supplies the heart muscles externally?

A

Coronary arteries

Coronary arteries branch off from the aorta and provide blood to the heart muscle.

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17
Q

Where are the atria located in relation to the ventricles?

A

Above the ventricles

The atria are positioned superiorly to the ventricles in the heart structure.

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18
Q

What are the small sacs or expansions covering the atria called?

A

Atrial appendages or auricles

These structures help to increase the volume of the atria.

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19
Q

Where is the base of the heart located?

A

Near the atria (top)

The base of the heart is oriented towards the top of the heart structure.

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20
Q

Which veins enter the right atrium?

A

Cranial and caudal vena cava

These veins bring deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart.

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21
Q

From which ventricle does the pulmonary artery emerge?

A

Right ventricle

The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

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22
Q

Which veins enter the left atrium?

A

Pulmonary veins

These veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

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23
Q

From which ventricle does the aorta emerge?

A

Left ventricle

The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.

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24
Q

What is the myocardium?

A

Muscle wall of the heart

The myocardium is responsible for the contraction of the heart.

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25
Q

What is the endocardium?

A

Thin layer of cells lining internal surface

The endocardium is continuous with the endothelium of blood vessels.

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26
Q

What is the function of the heart valves?

A

Prevent backflow

Valves ensure unidirectional blood flow through the heart.

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27
Q

What are the two sets of heart valves?

A

Atrioventricular and Semi-lunar valves

Atrioventricular valves include mitral and tricuspid; semi-lunar valves include pulmonary and aortic.

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28
Q

What are the inlet valves to the ventricles called?

A

Atrioventricular valves (Mitral/Bicuspid & Tricuspid)

These valves are crucial for regulating blood flow from the atria to the ventricles.

29
Q

What are the outlet valves from the ventricles called?

A

Semi-lunar valves (Pulmonary or Aortic)

These valves control blood flow from the ventricles to the arteries.

30
Q

What anchors the atrioventricular valves?

A

Chordae tendinae (heart strings)

These structures prevent the valves from inverting during heart contractions.

31
Q

What is the cardiac ‘skeleton’?

A

Rigid, fibrous structure that holds cardiac shape and anchors structures

It electrically separates compartments, breaking muscle continuity between atria and ventricles.

32
Q

What are coronary arteries?

A

The first arteries to branch from the aorta

They deliver approximately 5% of the cardiac output directly to the myocardium.

33
Q

What percentage of cardiac output is delivered to the myocardium?

A

~5%

This indicates the importance of coronary circulation in supplying the heart muscle.

34
Q

How many functional types do blood vessels fall into?

A

5

Each type serves a specific role in the circulatory system.

35
Q

What are the three layers of blood vessels?

A
  • Tunica intima
  • Tunica media
  • Tunica adventitia

Each layer has distinct structures and functions.

36
Q

What characterizes the Tunica intima?

A

Flattened layer of endothelial cells plus basement membrane

This layer is crucial for reducing friction as blood flows through the vessel.

37
Q

What is found in the Tunica media?

A

Smooth muscle cells, internal and external laminae

This layer is responsible for the contraction and dilation of blood vessels.

38
Q

What does the Tunica adventitia consist of?

A

Loose connective tissue and vasa vasorum

The vasa vasorum supplies blood to the outer layers of large vessels.

39
Q

How do arteries and veins differ in appearance?

A

Arteries have round and thick walls, while veins have flattened thin walls

This structural difference is related to their functions in the circulatory system.

40
Q

What distinguishes the Tunica intima of arteries from that of veins?

A

Arteries have a rippled appearance with an internal elastic membrane present, while veins have a smooth appearance and lack this membrane

This affects the elasticity and functionality of the vessels.

41
Q

What is found in the Tunica media of arteries compared to veins?

A

Arteries have more smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers; veins have fewer smooth muscle cells and more collagen fibers

This difference allows arteries to handle higher pressure from blood flow.

42
Q

What does the Tunica adventitia contain in both arteries and veins?

A

Collagen, elastic fibers, and nerve terminals

Vasa vasorum may also be present in larger arteries.

43
Q

What supports the endothelium in capillaries?

A

Basement membrane

The basement membrane provides structural support to the endothelium of capillaries.

44
Q

What are pericytes and where are they found?

A

Supportive, contractile cells found in some capillary beds

Pericytes help in the regulation of blood flow and maintenance of capillary structure.

45
Q

What type of capillaries are most common in tissue beds?

A

Continuous capillaries

Continuous capillaries have uninterrupted endothelial linings and are characteristic of most tissues.

46
Q

Which specialised capillaries are found in the kidney?

A

Fenestrated capillaries

Fenestrated capillaries have pores that facilitate filtration, especially in the glomerulus of the kidney.

47
Q

What type of capillaries are found in the spleen?

A

Sinusoidal capillaries

Sinusoidal capillaries are wider and more irregularly shaped, allowing for the exchange of larger molecules.

48
Q

What proportion of blood volume can be accommodated in veins at rest?

A

2/3 rds of blood volume

Veins serve as a blood reservoir, capable of holding a significant amount of blood.

49
Q

What structures do veins have that arteries do not?

A

Valves

Valves in veins prevent backflow and ensure unidirectional blood flow towards the heart.

50
Q

What determines fluid flow (F) in the cardiovascular system?

A

Pressure difference (ΔP) and resistance (R)

Fluid flow is affected by the driving pressure and the resistance encountered in the vessels.

51
Q

What is the formula for fluid flow?

A

F = ΔP/R

This formula indicates that fluid flow is directly proportional to pressure difference and inversely proportional to resistance.

52
Q

What factors determine resistance to fluid flow?

A

Viscosity (ƞ), length (L), and radius (r) of the tube

These factors influence how easily fluid can move through a vessel.

53
Q

What vessels are considered resistant vessels in the circulatory system?

A

Arterioles

Arterioles have a small radius and contribute significantly to the overall resistance in the circulatory system.

54
Q

What happens to total cross-section as vessels branch?

A

It increases

The branching of vessels increases the total cross-sectional area, affecting blood flow dynamics.

55
Q

Where is blood flow slowest and why?

A

In capillaries, due to exchange processes

Slow flow in capillaries allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste products.

56
Q

What are the two opposing pressures that determine fluid movement across capillary walls?

A
  • Hydrostatic pressure
  • Oncotic pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is exerted by the fluid, while oncotic pressure is exerted by proteins in the blood.

57
Q

Fill in the blank: The balance of hydrostatic and oncotic pressures determines _______.

A

net fluid movement

The interaction of these pressures controls how fluids move in and out of capillaries.

58
Q

What are Starling forces?

A

Starling forces = hydrostatic pressures

Starling forces describe the pressures that influence fluid movement across capillary walls.

59
Q

Describe the hydrostatic force at the input (arterial) end of a capillary.

A

High capillary hydrostatic force

This results in a net outward hydrostatic force.

60
Q

Describe the hydrostatic force at the output (venous) end of a capillary.

A

Lower capillary hydrostatic pressure

This results in a net inward hydrostatic force.

61
Q

Fill in the blank: At the input (arterial) end, the capillary oncotic force is _______.

A

Low

This results in a net outward oncotic force.

62
Q

Fill in the blank: At the output (venous) end, the capillary oncotic pressure is _______.

A

Higher

This results in a net inward oncotic force.

63
Q

What is the net effect of the four Starling forces?

A

Fluid movement

The movement can be outward (filtration) or inward (resorption).

64
Q

What generally happens in tissues regarding fluid movement?

A

More fluid is filtered than is reabsorbed

This is influenced by the specific anatomy and function of the tissue.

65
Q

What is the composition of lymph?

A

Same as interstitial fluid

Lymph is derived from interstitial fluid.

66
Q

What happens to excess interstitial fluid?

A

Drains into lymphatic vessels

The lymphatic system returns this fluid to the bloodstream.

67
Q

How does lymph travel back into the bloodstream?

A

Through progressively larger lymphatic vessels until emptied into venous circulation

This process ensures the return of interstitial fluid to the blood.

68
Q

List the conditions that can lead to abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid (edema).

A
  • Increased capillary pressure
  • Decreased circulating plasma protein
  • Increased capillary permeability (e.g., inflammation)
  • Decreased lymphatic drainage

These factors disrupt normal fluid balance.

CRLS (CLB) (16 decks)

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