Lecture 5: Cardio Flashcards
What does the right heart pump to?
Pumps blood through the lungs
What does the left heart pump to?
Pump blood through the body
What are some key characteristics of cardiac myocytes?
There are specialized excitatory and conductive fibers.
Conduction is extended in a cardiac myocytes.
What is the SA node’s intrinsic heart rate?
60-100 bpm, but generally higher without ANS modulation.
What are the key anatomical differences in cardiac myocytes vs skeletal muscle?
Latticework
Functional syncytium made from intercalated discs.
What is a syncytium?
A combined cytoplasm, usually made by intercalated discs.
Where are the two syncytia of the heart?
Atrial and ventricular.
Note:
They are separated by an insulated fibrous layer in their AV valves to the signal does not pass through them. Signal goes via interventricular septum.
What are the two action potential related differences between skeletal and cardiac muscle?
Cardiac has two channels, fast sodium + calcium-sodium.
Calcium-sodium is slower to open and remains open for much longer (several tenths of a second).
Calcium for the muscle AP comes from the sarcoplasmic reticulum AND the T tubules.
What does the strength of contraction of a cardiac muscle fiber depend on?
ECF concentration of calcium.
What does beta-adrenergic stimulation of the heart do?
Increase cardiac contractility and acceleration.
Note:
Think of dobutamine, the beta-1 agonist we learned in pharm.
What does DHP stand for?
Dihydropyridine.
What class antiarrhythmic is amiodarone?
Class III, because it works on phase 3 of the cardiac AP.
This is the part of the phase that is dependent on potassium, so amiodarone affects potassium channels.
What part of the cardiac action potential does a calcium channel blocker (CCB) affect?
It is class IV, a non-DHP CCB.
It affects phase 2 of the cardiac AP, which is the plateau phase of the cardiac action potential. It slows electrical conductivity, extending the phase.
What is the slow depolarization of the SA node action potential known as?
Pacemaker potential
Explain the process of the SA node’s AP.
At -60 mV, K+ channels close, slow Na+ channels open.
Slow increase to -40. -60 to -40 is the pacemaker potential.
-40 is when Ca channels open , which goes to +5.
At the peak, Ca channels close and K+ channels open, reducing the membrane potential. As it repolarizes, the Ca permeability decreases at -10 and the K+ permeability increases at -30.
Note:
Above -40 is the AP, below -40 is the pacemaker potential.
What 3 things does parasympathetic innervation do to the SA node’s AP?
Reduces rate of depolarization.
Increase in the time it takes to repolarize.
Upward shift in threshold potential.
What does S1 represent?
AV valve closure.
What does S2 represent?
Semilunar valve closure.
When does isovolumic contraction occur between?
AV valve closure and semilunar valve opening.
When does isovolumic relaxation occur between?
Semilunar valve closure and AV valve opening.
What are EDV and ESV?
End diastolic volume = the volume at the end of diastole
End systolic volume = the volume at the end of systole.
EDV - ESV = SV, or stroke volume.
Where does the cardiac cycle begin?
SA node, located in the superolateral wall of the R atrium near the opening of the SVC.
What is diastole?
A period of relaxation when the heart is filling with blood.
What is systole?
A period of contraction.
How does blood flow into the ventricles during diastole?
Mainly gravity, with a minor amount of atrial contraction contributing.
What are the AV valves specifically designed to prevent?
Backflow of the blood from the ventricles to the atria
Note:
Think of their shape.
What are the semilunar valves specifically designed to prevent?
Backflow of the blood from the aorta and pulmonary trunk to the ventricles
Note:
Think of their shape
What does contraction of the chordae tendineae do?
Prevents the valves from bulging. It is NOT to help the valves close.
What is the increase of LV volume also known as?
Period of rapid filling of the ventricles.
Why does isovolumic contraction occur?
The AV valves close and volume stays identical, hence isovolumic. However, it takes .02-.03 secs to build up pressure to open the semilunar valves.
What is the pressure of the LV during systole?
Slightly above 80mm Hg.
What are the two parts of ejection?
Period of rapid ejection and slow ejection.
Rapid = 70%, during the first 1/3 of ejection.
Slow = 30%, during the 2nd 2/3 of ejection.