Lecture 16: Histology of the Cardiovascular System Flashcards
4 Functions of the cardiovascular system
- Maintenance of adequate blood flow (cardiac output)
- Delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, electrolytes, and water to peripheral tissues
- Removal of CO2 and other metabolic waste products
- Maintenance of normal thermoregulation and glomerular filtration rate -> urine output
Normal vascular pattern
Artery - arteriole - metarteriole - capillaries - venule - vein
Endocardium
Endothelial lining of the heart chamber surface. Also covers the surface of valves. The subendocardium contains a thin layer of connective tissue.
Where are purkinje fibers found?
.Subendocardium
Myocardium
Cardiac muscle mass
Epicardium
- Formed by a single layer of flattened epithelial cells, the mesothelium, supported by connective tissue including fat.
- A similar mesothelial layer lines the opposing parietal surface of the pericardial sac
What lubricates the movement of the epicardium on the opposite parietal pericardium?
Mesothelial cells
The epicardium represents what layer of the pericardial sac?
Visceral
What is cardiac muscle called?
Mycardium
Is myocardium cross-striated?
Yes
Nucleus of myocardium
Single, centrally located
The intercalated discs of myocardium
- gap junctions
- anchoring junctions
Myocardium contains what pigment
lipofuscin
Mitochondria in myocardium?
Yes, many.
Up to 20% cell volume
Because there are a lot of mitochondria in myocardium,
it requires a lot of O2
Epicardium is contiguous with the endocardium at the level of the
endocardial cushion
The cardiac skeleton consists of
4 bands of fibrous connective tissue that encircles the base of the pulmonary trunk, aorta, and AV valves
Purpose of the cardiac skeleton
Provides structural support to the heart
Fibrous trigon
- Triangular mass of fibrous connective tissue
- Connects the aortic arterial ring and the left and right atrioventricular ring.
Differentiation of the fibrous trigon
Osseous differentiation and forms the Os Cordis, which is primarily seen in cattle
Three tunics of vessels
- Tunica intima
- Tunica media
- Tunica adventitia/externa
Tunica intima of vessels
- Innermost
- Endothelium, internal elastic membrane, subendothelial connective tissue
Tunica media of vessels
- Middle
- Smooth muscle and elastic lamellae/fibers
Tunica adventitia of vessels
- Outermost
- CT, principally collagen, may contain blood vessels, nerves, capillaries
Vascular endothelium role in hemostasis
- Anti-thrombotic and pro-fibrinolytic in the normal state
- Pro-thrombotic and anti-fibrinolytic during injury
Vascular endothelium role in modulating perfusion
- Nitric oxide relaxes and causes vasodilation
- Endothelin causes vasoconstriction
Vascular endothelium role in inflammation
- Regulates the traffic of inflammatory cells
- Produces pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Control angiogenesis and tissue repair
Hemostasis
Arrest bleeding by the physiological properties of vasoconstriction and coagulation or by surgical means
Does the elastic artery have all three tunics?
Yes
Best example of an elastic artery
Aorta