Introduction To Circulatory System

Question 1

Define anastomose

Answer 1

Is a junction/joining of different vessels

Question 2

Define veins

Answer 2

• Veins - carry blood from organs to heart
• Walls thinner than arteries - contain less muscle/elastic tissue
• Largest veins have 1-way valves preventing blood flowing in opposite direction (regurgitation)
• Final branches - venules

Question 3

Define capillaries

Answer 3

• Capillaries - hair-like vessels concerned with gas metabolism (all gas exchange happens here)
• Walls 1 cell-thick and very narrow
• Connect smallest arteriole and smallest venule
• They semi-permeable

Question 4

Define artery

Answer 4

• Arteries - carry blood from heart to organs - away from heart
• Carry oxygenated blood with exception of pulmonary arteries
• Thick walls containing muscle/elastic tissue to withstand pressure produced when heart pushes blood into them
  Final branches - arterioles, which are continuous with capillaries

Question 5

define lesser (pulmonary) circulation

Answer 5

Lesser (pulmonary) circulation - enriches blood with O2 in lungs
* Starts in right ventricle by pulmonary trunk, then to pulmonary arteries ends in left atrium by 4 pulmonary veins
* 2 atriums + 2 ventricles - A/V divided by tricuspid + bicuspid/mitral valve

Question 6

define greater (systemic) circulation

Answer 6

Greater (systemic) circulation - supplies all organs/tissues with nutrients + O2
Starts in left ventricle by aorta, ends in right atrium by superior/inferior vena cava

Question 7

define cardiac circulation

Answer 7

Cardiac circulation - heart’s own circulation
Begins with coronary arteries arising from beginnings of ascending aorta - ends with veins in heart which drain into right atrium/ventricle

Question 8

is the superior + inferior vena cava an artery or a vein

Answer 8

The superior + inferior vena cava are the two largest veins that carry blood into the right upper chamber of the heart (the right atrium).

Question 9

what are chordae tendinae?

Answer 9

chordae tendinae aka ‘heartstrings’ are strong fibrous connection between valve and papillary muscles. The chordae tendinae connect tricuspid+bicuspid valves to bottom of ventricles

function: prevent cusps from swinging back into atrial cavity during systole

n.b.
bicuspid/ mitral valve- has 2 functional units of chordae tendinae
tricuspid- has 3 functional units of chordae tendinae

Question 10

how does blood move thru the heart?

Question 11

what is the angle of louis

Answer 11

The sternal angle (also known as the angle of Lewis, angle of Louis, angle of Ludovic, or manubriosternal junction) is the projecting angle formed between the manubrium and body of a sternum at their junction at the manubriosternal joint.

Question 12

what part of the heart do the following coronary arteries supply?
right coronary artery branches into
* posterior descending interventricular artery
* right marginal artery

left coronary artery branches into
* circumflex artery
* left anterior descending interventricular artery (LAD)

Answer 12

• LEFT CORONARY ARTERY (LCA) branches into:
• Circumflex artery (surrounds) - supplies blood to left atrium, side and back of left ventricle
  Left anterior descending artery (LAD) - lodged between 2 ventricle in intraventricular sulcus - supplies front and bottom of left ventricle + front of septum
• RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY (RCA) branches into:
• Right marginal artery branch provides blood supply to the lateral portion of the right ventricle
• Posterior descending artery branch supplies blood to the inferior aspect of the heart

Question 13

what parts of the heart does the right coronary artery (main branch trunk/ before it splits) supply?

Answer 13

RCA supplies:
* Right atrium
* Right ventricle
* Bottom portion of both ventricles and back of septum
Sinoatrial + atrioventricular nodes

Question 14

what is angina?

Answer 14

angina is chest pain or discomfort in heart that keeps coming back

Question 15

what are the auscultation points for the heart valves?

Answer 15

aortic valve= 2nd intercostal space, right sternal edge

pulmonary valve= 2nd intercostal space, left sternal edge

tricuspid valve= 4th intercostal space, left sternal edge

mitral/bicuspid valve= 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line

Question 16

40-50% of all myocardial infarctions are due to which branch of the left coronary artery

Answer 16

blockage in LAD (left anterior descending) off LCA is 40%-50% MI cases

Question 17

what pulse do you feel in the anatomical snuff box?

Answer 17

the radial pulse can be felt in antomical snuff box

Question 18

at what verterbal level
a) does the aorta become the abdominal aorta (pierces diaphragm)
b) does the inferior vena cava opening
c) is the start and end point of oesophagus

Answer 18

a) The descending thoracic aorta passes through the diaphragm’s aortic hiatus at the T12 vertebral level at which point it continues as the abdominal aorta.

b) T8 vertebral level is the opening of the vena cava

c) oesophagus starts at** C6 verterbal level** and ends at T10 vertebral level

I ATE (8) 10 EGGS AT 12

Question 19

where do all the coronary veins drain?

Answer 19

The venous drainage of the heart is mostly through the coronary sinus – a large venous structure located on the posterior aspect of the heart. The cardiac veins drain into the coronary sinus, which in turn, empties into the right atrium.

Question 20

define lymphatic vascular system (LVS)

Answer 20

LVS= Series of vessels that remove excess tissue fluid (lymph) from interstitial tissue spaces - returns it to cardiovascular system

Question 21

Where do lymphoid elements develop?

Answer 21

1. Bone marrow and thymus - central organs of immune system
2. Lymphoid organs in mucous membranes - solitary/grouped lymph follicles, tonsils, accumulation of tissue in vermiform process (aka appendix)
3. White pulp of spleen
4. Lymph nodes

Question 22

what is lymphangitis

Answer 22

• Inflammation of lymph vessels
• -Itis so inflammation
  Most common cause - bacteria streptococcus pyogenes
  *Lymph vessels appear as red streaks through skin

Question 23

what is **lymphedema **

Answer 23

• Occurs due to accumulation of lymphatic fluid in interstitial tissue (appears as swollen limbs)
• Sometimes can be appreciated after wearing tight clothing/jewellery on affected limb
• causes: obesity, radiotherapy, injury, inflammation, venous thrombosis, immobility