Module 1 - Cardio

Question 1

How many circuits does the cardiovascular
system have?

Answer 1

2: Pulmonary & systemic

Question 2

Which system has the highest pressure?

Answer 2

Systemic

Question 3

How many chambers does the heart have?

Answer 3

4: right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle

Question 4

Which chamber is the most muscular?

Answer 4

Left ventricle

Question 5

How many valves does the heart have?

Answer 5

2 atrioventricular valves (tricuspid & bicuspid)

2 semilunar valves (pulmonary & aortic)

Question 6

Why are valves important?

Answer 6

To prevent backflow of blood

Question 7

What are systole and diastole?

Answer 7

Systole: contraction phase of the heart, pumping blood out.

Diastole: relaxation phase, allowing the heart to fill with blood.

Question 8

What is the function of the semilunar valves?

Answer 8

To permit blood flow into the arteries and prevent backflow into the ventricles.

Question 9

What is the pericardium

Answer 9

A double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels, maintaining the heart’s position and preventing overfilling.

Question 10

What are the atrioventricular valves and their locations?

Answer 10

The tricuspid valve (right side)

bicuspid/mitral valve (left side).

Question 11

What is End Diastolic Volume (EDV)?

Answer 11

the volume of blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole, just before contraction. It represents the maximum volume of blood the ventricle will hold.

Question 12

What is End Systolic Volume (ESV)?

Answer 12

End Systolic Volume (ESV) is the volume of blood remaining in the ventricle after contraction. It represents the minimum volume of blood in the ventricle.

Question 13

What is preload, and how does it affect the heart?

Answer 13

Preload is the degree of stretch of the heart muscle at the end of diastole, just before contraction. It is primarily determined by the left ventricular end diastolic volume (EDV). Greater stretch (higher preload) results in a stronger contraction of the heart.

Question 14

What is afterload, and what is its main determinant?

Answer 14

Afterload is the resistance the heart must overcome to eject blood during systole. Its main determinant is the resistance in the blood vessels, such as blood pressure.

Question 15

What is venous return, and how does it impact cardiac output?

Answer 15

Venous return is the volume of blood returning to the heart from the veins each minute. Increased venous return increases EDV, which in turn increases stroke volume and cardiac output.

Question 16

What does the Frank-Starling law of the heart state?

Answer 16

The Frank-Starling law of the heart states that the greater the end diastolic volume (EDV), the greater the force of contraction during systole, within physiological limits. This is the heart’s intrinsic ability to adapt to changing volumes of incoming blood.

Question 17

What is a cardiac action potential?

Answer 17

A cardiac action potential is the electrical impulse that travels through the heart’s cells, triggering a coordinated contraction of the heart muscle.

Question 18

What are the two main types of cells in the heart?

Answer 18

The heart contains contractile cardiac muscle cells (responsible for pumping) and pacemaker cells (responsible for generating action potentials).

Question 19

What is the role of pacemaker cells in the heart?

Answer 19

Located in the sinoatrial (SA) node, can spontaneously generate action potentials, setting the rhythm for the entire heart without neural input.

Question 20

What is the sinoatrial (SA) node?

Answer 20

Small group of cells in the right atrium that acts as the heart’s primary pacemaker by generating regular action potentials, initiating the heartbeat.

Question 21

What is the atrioventricular (AV) node, and what is its function?

Answer 21

Secondary pacemaker located between the atria and ventricles. It delays the electrical impulse, ensuring that the atria contract before the ventricles, coordinating heart activity.

Question 22

What is excitation-contraction coupling in the heart?

Answer 22

Process by which an action potential leads to the release of calcium ions, which then enable actin and myosin to bind, causing cardiac muscle contraction.

Question 23

What is the Frank-Starling law of the heart?

Answer 23

States that the greater the end-diastolic volume (preload), the stronger the contraction of the heart, allowing it to eject more blood.

Question 24

What is the role of gap junctions in the heart?

Answer 24

Gap junctions are channels between cardiac muscle cells that allow ions to pass freely, enabling rapid transmission of action potentials and coordinated contraction.

Question 25

What are arteries?

Answer 25

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They have thick, muscular, and elastic walls to withstand and maintain high pressure.

Question 26

What are arterioles?

Answer 26

Small branches of arteries that lead to capillaries. They regulate blood flow into tissues by adjusting their diameter through vasoconstriction and vasodilation.

Question 27

What are capillaries?

Answer 27

Smallest blood vessels, the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products occurs between blood and tissues. They have a thin wall, one cell layer thick (tunica intima).

Question 28

What are venules?

Answer 28

Small vessels that collect blood from capillaries and transport it to veins. They help in the exchange of some substances and communicate with arterioles to balance blood inflow and outflow.

Question 29

What are veins?

Answer 29

Blood vessels that return blood toward the heart. They have a larger lumen and thinner walls compared to arteries, with less muscle and elastic tissue. They also contain valves to prevent backflow

Question 30

What is microcirculation?

Answer 30

the circulation of blood through the smallest blood vessels, including arterioles, capillaries, and venules. It is critical for nutrient and gas exchange at the tissue level.

Question 31

How do arteries act as pressure reservoirs?

Answer 31

Arteries act as pressure reservoirs due to their elasticity. They expand during systole (when the heart pumps) and recoil during diastole (when the heart relaxes), maintaining blood flow even when the heart is not actively pumping.

Question 32

What are the main structural layers of blood vessels?

Answer 32

Tunica Intima: Innermost layer, made of simple squamous epithelium.

Tunica Media: Middle layer, contains circularly arranged smooth muscle.

Tunica Externa: Outer layer, composed of connective tissue.

Question 33

What are Korotkoff sounds?

Answer 33

sounds heard through a stethoscope when measuring blood pressure, indicating the flow of blood as pressure in the cuff is released.

Question 34

What is the Baroreceptor Reflex?

Answer 34

Mechanism for rapid adjustment of mean arterial blood pressure in response to sudden changes, involving baroreceptors that detect pressure changes and adjust cardiovascular responses.

Question 35

Where are baroreceptors located and what do they do?

Answer 35

Baroreceptors are mechanoreceptors located in the carotid sinuses and aortic arch that detect stretch due to changes in blood pressure and send signals to the medullary cardiovascular center.