The Heart...LeBlanc Wk1 & Physio reading. Flashcards
What is cardiac output?
The amount of blood that is pumped out of either ventricle.
What is venous return?
The amount of blood that is returned to either atrium.
What’s the deal w/ cardiac output & ventricles & venous return & atria @ steady state?
Cardiac output is equal in either ventricle at steady state. Venous return is equal in either atrium at steady state. Cardiac output=venous return at steady state.
Describe the arterioles’ innervation from the nervous system. note: this is the site of highest resistance in the cardiovascular system.
Alpha 1 adrenergic: causes vasoconstriction higher affinity for NE than
Beta 2 adrenergic: causes vasodilation
T/F All capillaries are always perfused with at least some blood.
No. False. Selective Perfusion of Capillaries b/c of autonomic stimulation.
Why can veins contain so much blood? How can you change that?
B/c unlike arteries…they don’t have a lot of elastic tissue.
Can change this thru alpha 1 adrenergic stimulation…which causes contraction & reduces their capacitance.
What is the significance of this equation: v=Q/A
velocity = blood flow/ cross sectional Area.
Explains why the important slow velocity that allows for exchange in capillaries exists…they have a large cross sectional area.
What is the significance of this equation:
R=8nl/pir^4?
n(nu) is the viscosity of the blood.
l is the length of the blood vessel
r is the radius of the blood vessel
R is resistance to flow.
If you increased your hematocrit…what would happen to your resistance to blood flow?
This would increase the viscosity of the blood. This would increase the resistance.
What would happen to resistance to blood flow if you shortened the length of the blood vessel?
this would decrease the resistance of the blood flow.
What would happen if you decreased the radius of a blood vessel by 1/2?
It would increase resistance by a factor of 16!
What is the significance of Reynold’s number as signified by this equation: Nr=pdv/n?
The higher Nr the more likely the blood vessel will experience turbulent flow (and not laminar flow) which is bad. this means that the higher the velocity of the blood & the lower the viscosity of the blood…the more likely you’re gonna get turbulent flow. When diameter gets smaller, the velocity gets larger–>more turbulent flow.
In Reynold’s number what wins out in terms of effect…diameter or velocity?
Velocity! When you see changes in diameter…just think the smaller the diameter the faster the velocity & think about the effect of that.
Anemia causes turbulent flow. Why?
Low hematocrit…lower viscosity…higher Nr.
High cardiac output…higher velocity…higher Nr.
Thrombi cause turbulent flow. Why?
This decreases the diameter of the blood vessel lumen. This increases velocity & therefore Nr.
Total Volume of Blood=Unstressed Volume + Stressed Volume + Volume of blood in the heart. What does this mean?
Unstressed Volume=volume of blood in the veins. At low pressure (low stress)
Stressed Volume=volume of blood in the arteries. At high pressure
How does the equation for capacitance: C=V/P relate to veins & arteries?
Veins have a high capacitance or compliance. They can hold a lot of blood at a given pressure. Their pressure is typically very low.
Arteries have a lower capacitance or compliance. They don’t hold as much blood at a given pressure. Their pressure is typically very high.
In terms of the concept of compliance…why do older people typically have higher blood pressure?
Their arteries are stiffer (less compliant) so C decreases. And in order to hold the same V volume of blood…they need to also increase their pressure.
Where is the greatest drop in arterial pressure? Why? What is the pressure of the vena cava & of the RA?
At the level of the arterioles b/c they have the highest resistance & deltaP=Q X R. Blood flow is constant, so if there is a higher resistance there must be a higher drop in pressure. Also…vena cava BP is about 4mmHg & RA is about 0mmHg.
The pulsatile flow of blood near the aorta reflects what?
The cardiac cycle w/ each pulse. : ) Highest pressure shows ejection during systole (systolic pressure) & lowest pressure shows relaxation during diastole (diastolic pressure). Difference b/w Systolic & Diastolic is the pulse pressure…reflects stroke volume.
What is the dicrotic notch?
It is the little dip in the arterial pressure that signifies the closure of the aortic valve. Here a little blood flows back & momentarily decreases arterial pressure.
Note: pulsation in larger arteries is larger than in the aorta.
It’s weird. Just accept it.
What is the equation for mean arterial pressure? Explain why.
Mean Arterial pressure=Diastolic Pressure + 1/3 pulse pressure.
More emphasis is given to the diastolic pressure b/c more time is spent in diastole.
What can change mean arterial pressure?
Mainly changes in pulse pressure. This can be changed by changes in stroke volume or compliance of the vessel.
What happens to pressure w/ arteriosclerosis?
Plaque buildup makes the arteries less compliant. By the equation C=V/P…this requires an increase in systolic & mean & pulse pressure.
What happens to pressure w/ aortic stenosis?
C=V/P. The narrowing of the aortic valve will cause a decrease in stroke volume. This will cause a decrease in mean arterial, pulse, systolic pressure.
How can you have the same cardiac output in both circulations (pulmonary & systemic) when the pressure in the pulmonary circuit is so much lower?
Q=P/R. The blood flow must be constant in both circulations.
So b/c the pressure in the pulmonary circuit is lower…the resistance must also be lower than in the systemic circulation.
What is the difference b/w contractile cells & conducting cells?
Contractile Cells–in atrial & ventricular tissues; working cells of the heart; AP here leads to contraction
Conducting Cells–SA, atrial internodal, AV, Bundle of His, Purkinje. Can spontaneously generate AP. They are muscle cells but don’t create force. They transmit AP to contractile cells.
What do the atrial internodal tracts do?
They are conducting cells that spread the AP from the right atrium @ the SA node to both atria & to the AV node.
Why is slow conduction thru the AV node so important?
This delay helps give the ventricles time to fill sufficiently. If the AV node conduction were faster then the ventricle wouldn’t fully fill.
Is the conduction thru Bundle of His & Purkinjes slow or fast?
It is fast. It goes to the ventricular muscle cells.
What are the requirements for a normal sinus rhythm?
AP originates @ the SA node.
SA impulses @ a rate of 60-100 bpm.
Activation of the myocardium must occur in the proper order.
Which ion primarily determines the resting membrane potential in cardiac cells?
Potassium.
How much of a contribution does the sodium potassium pump make to the membrane potential?
Very little. It does keep the conc’n gradients of sodium & potassium proper.
What will happen to membrane potential when the conc’n of potassium outside of the cell is decreased?
There will be a larger conc’n gradient & desire for potassium to get outside the cell. The membrane potential will then be closer to that of potassium (more negative).
In ventricular cells, there is low permeability to ______ions except during________.
Sodium.
Except during the upstroke of the AP.
What are the characteristics that define the atrial, ventricular, & Purkinje system cells?
Long duration w/ a plateau. Longer refractory period.
Stable resting membrane potential–they don’t really spontaneously depolarize.