Physiology Flashcards
How do pancreatic fluid secretions change with flow rate? What controls / secretes this?
Fluid is isotonic and secreted by pancreatic ductal (NOT acinar cells, which are in control of enzymes)
Low flow rates -> High Cl- levels (in the absence of secretin), low HCO3- levels
High flow rates -> High HCO3- levels, low Cl- levels (stimulated by secretin)
Na+ is high and K+ is low (like plasma ultrafiltrate), and this remains constant. #6574
How are salivary gland secretions affected by flow rate?
Low flow rates -> more contact with acinar cells, Na/Cl is resorbed, K+ is secreted more
High flow rates -> saliva becomes more like an ultrafiltrate of plasma because there’s no time.
What does CO * TPR =
Change in P = MAP - RAP
Where Mean arterial pressure = 1/3 systolic + 2/3 diastolic, since diastole is usually 2x as long as systole.
What happens to the pulse pressure in the elderly and why?
Increased arterial stiffness -> decrease compliance -> decreased ability to smooth out the systolic / diastolic BP differential -> increased pulse pressure (greater difference between systolic / diastolic pressure)
What determines afterload?
DIASTOLIC BP -> the force that the heart must push against
How do Beta1 receptors improve cardiac output?
Via action of Protein Kinase A
-> phosphorylation of L-type calcium channel -> improved Ca+2 entry -> improved contractility
-> phosphorylation of phospholamban -> increases active SERCA activity -> faster relaxation to improve diastolic filling
What is the formula for wall stress? What increases / decreases it?
Wall stress = (Pressure x Radius) / 2(wall thickness)
-> force with cardiomyocytes must push against
Increased by greater radius from center to wall of ventricle, and systolic pressure (afterload)
Stress is decreased via increasing wall thickness
Why is afterload approximated by mean arterial pressure?
Afterload is actually wall stress -> Force per unit area the heart must push against
However, we assume that ventricular radius and wall thickness are pretty much constant, so pressure (in the numerator of wall stress equation) is a pretty good proxy.
Pressure = Force per area
Radius = length (i.e. cm)
Wall thickness = length (i.e. cm)
(F/A * cm) / cm = F/A, Laplace’s law
How does wall stress change during ejection?
It decreases because
- The size of the LV cavity decreases -> Radius decreases
- LV wall thickness increases -> more sarcomeres pushed together (think of flexing your bicep)
What is wall tension? How does it relate to oxygen demand?
Pressure (MAP) * radius
-> it’s the numerator of the wall stress equation
Force you’re pushing against * the radius of the circular ventricle cavity
Increasing wall tension will increase oxygen demand (related to afterload)
How does blood velocity relate to cross-sectional area?
Remember P = CO*TPR
CO = Q
Q = flow rate
Volumetric flow rate (m^3/s) = flow velocity (m/s) * cross-sectional area (m^2)
Increasing the cross-sectional area for a given flow rate / cardiac output will decrease the flow velocity.
Thus, blood travels fastest in the aorta and slowest in the capillaries (largest total cross-sectional area)
How is resistance dependent on hematocrit?
Resistance = 8viscositylength / (pi* r^4)
Viscosity is mostly dependent on hematocrit
- > viscosity increased in polycythemia
- > viscosity also increase in hyperproteinemia state
Viscosity decreased in anemia (lower hematocrit)
What should you think of Total Peripheral Resistance as in order to get questions right? How will it affect cardiac output and venous return?
Arteriolar resistance -> since most of the resistance is at the level of the arterioles
Decreasing TPR -> decreases arteriolar resistance
- > more blood reaches veins = increased venous return
- > less pressure to push against = decreased afterload -> increased cardiac output
What is the median systemic pressure? What changes the x-intercept of the venous return vs right atrial pressure graph?
X intercept represents the median systemic pressure -> pressure in veins / arteries if there was no cardiac output
Increasing volume or venous tone -> increased RA pressure at 0 cardiac output (X-intercept)
Decreasing volume or venous tone -> decreased RA pressure at 0 cardiac output
Remember that venous tone is what maintains venous return and RA pressure (prevents pooling of blood in veins due to too much compliance)
How does an AV fistula affect TPR and what will it do to median systemic pressure overtime?
Lowers TPR -> increased cardiac output and venous return, since you have a low resistance system to push thru
Despite increased CO, most CO is going thru fistula -> decreased systemic perfusion -> decreased kidney perfusion
Activation of RAA system by kidney -> fluid retention, increasing median systemic pressure over time (X-intercept)
Waves of jugular venous pulsation:
a wave -> Atrial contraction, corresponds with s4
c wave -> RV Contraction, with tricuspid valve bulging into right atrium, corresponds to just after s1
x descent -> downward displacement of closed tricuspid valve during rapid ventricular ejection
v wave -> “villing” of right atrium against closed tricuspid valve
y descent -> RA emptYing into RV before next cardiac cycle (absent in cardiac tamponade -> cannot fill, prominent in constrictive pericarditis, with abrupt stop)
When does the physiologic delay in splitting happen?
Inspiration -> P2 happens even later due to increased venous return. It is normally after A2 anyway, just becomes more prominent.
What causes wide split vs paradoxical split heart sounds?
Wide split - right BBB, pulmonic stenosis -> delayed RV ejection, slow P2 closure
Paradoxical split - splitting on expiration, none or smaller on inspiration - left BBB, aortic stenosis -> delayed LV ejection, slow A2 closure
What causes fixed splitting / why does it happen?
Equalization of left and right atrial pressures with an atrial septal defect
-> elimination of respiratory variation in splitting.
How does increasing afterload affect an aortic stenosis murmur?
Decreases it
-> will decrease the transvalvular gradient, lessening the murmur
How does a Valsalva manuever destroy a supraventricular tachycardia?
Inhale / strain -> preload is reduced as blood is held in lungs -> reflex tachycardia
Release -> massive rush of blood from lungs to heart -> increased preload / contractility -> reflex bradycardia
-> massive parasympathetic input terminates the SVT
How does squatting affect preload / afterload?
Increases preload -> you get closer to the ground and also use muscles to force blood back into your heart
Increases afterload -> much like a handgrip, muscle contraction increases load you must push against.
How does squatting affect aortic stenosis murmur?
Increase in preload is more significant than the increase in afterload
-> increases aortic stenosis murmur
Remember that preload is necessary to maintain perfusion in patients with aortic stenosis -> cardiovert if they have AFib
When is a PDA the loudest?
At S2
-> highest blood flow at end of systole