Physiology Flashcards
what does the P wave signify
atrial depolarisation
what does the QRS complex signify
ventricular depolarisation
what does the T wave signify
ventricular repolarisation
what does the PR interval signify
AV nodal delay
what does the ST segment signify
ventricular systole
what does the TP interval signify
diastole
what system mainly influences HR
autonomic nervous system
what effect does sympathetic stimulation have on HR
increase
what effect does parasympathetic stimulation have on HR
decrease
how does sympathetic stimulation increase HR
decreases AV nodal delay
what chemical acts upon which cells during cardiac sympathetic stimulation
noradrenaline acting on B1 adrenoreceptors
how does parasympathetic stimulation decrease HR
vagus nerves exerts a continous influence on SA node (vagal tone)
increases AV nodal delay
what chemical acts upon which cells during cardiac parasympathetic stimulation
ACh acting on M2 receptors
what is a competitive inhibitor of ACh
atropine
when would atropine be used
during bradycardia to increase HR
what is a resting HR
60-100bpm
what HR is bradycardia
below 60bpm
what Hr is tachycardia
above 100bpm
where does the excitation of the heart originate
pacemaker cells in the SA node
if the HR is driven by the SA node and is in regular rhythm it is said to be in what
sinus rhythm
describe the route of excitation
spreads from SA node to AV node via gap junctions
then speeds down the bundle of his
then down the L and R bundle branches to the purkinje fibres
what is the AV node
small bundle of specialised cardiac cells
what is the only point of electrical contact between the atria and the ventricles
AV node
where is the AV node located
at the base of the RA just above the junction of the atria and ventricles
what allows atrial systole to precede ventricular systole, why?
the AV node; is has a slow conduction velocity which delays conduction across the AV node
what is atrial systole also know as
contraction
outline the structure of cardiac muscle
striated fibres contains myofibrils
coupled via gap junctions
desmosome provide mechanical support
describe the structure of myofibrils
contain thick filaments (myosin) and thin filaments (actin) arranged into sarcomeres
what is stroke volume (SV)
the volume of blood ejected by each ventricle per heart beat
what is stroke volume equal to
end diastolic volume - end systolic volume
describe the intrinsic mechanisms that regulate SV
changes in the diastolic length of myocardial fibres, this is determined by EDV
what extrinsic mechanisms that regulate SV
hormones and nerves
what effect does sympathetic stimulation have on SV
increases
what effect does parasympathetic stimulation have on SV
no effect due to lack of innervation
what hormones effect SV
adrenaline and noradrenaline
what is the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline on SV
increase
what is end diastolic volume (EDV)
the volume of blood within each ventricle at the end of diastole
what does EDV determine
preload
what is EDV determined by
venous return
what is end systolic volume (ESV)
the volume of blood in each ventricle at the end of systole
explain how changes to ventricular preload causes changes in SV
the more the ventricle is filled during diastole (EDV) the greater the volume of blood ejected during the resulting systolic contraction (SV)
how are the SV of the L & R ventricles matched
if venous return to the RA increases the EDV of the RA increases leading to an increased SV to the pulmonary artery. As a result venous return to the LA from the pulmonary vein increases causing to a increased EDV of the LV increasing SV to the aorta
what is afterload
the resistance into which the heart is pumping
what is the effect of prolonged increases afterload
ventricular hypertrophy
what is cardiac output (CO)
the volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per minute