2 Flashcards
(310 cards)
Which IC space does the superior border of the heart lie on?
2nd IC space
Why is the angle of Louis an important landmark?
Marks the level of the intervertebral discs which lie between T4 and T5.
Manubriosternal junction.
Is where the superior border of the R atrium lies.
Marks the bifurcation of the trachea.
Which cardiac chamber forms most of the inferior border of the heart?
R ventricle
Moving away from the heart, what’s the 3rd branch of the aorta?
3rd – L. common carotid
What class are adrenaline and noradrenaline (catecholamines)?
Alpha-adrenoceptor agonist
Which structures does the ligamentum arteriosum attach to?
Pulmonary arteries and aorta
What is the ligamentum arteriosum?
A remnant of the foetal ductus arteriosus that allowed passage of blood from the high-pressure pulmonary arteries to the aorta
When does the ductus arteriosus close?
On day 1-2 of life in response to hyperoxia, it undergoes fibrosis to form the ligamentum arteriosum that inserts into the aortic arch opposite the left subclavian artery.
What is the function of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists?
Induces smooth muscle and blood vessel contraction
Which embryonic structure, is the brain derived from?
Neural tube
Isoprenaline use + class
Use: Treatment of bradycardia, heart block, rarely for asthma.
Class: Non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor agonist
Differentiate between: endocardium, myocardium, epicardium, pericardium
Endocardium – lines inside of heart
Myocardium – muscular tissue of the heart
Epicardium – visceral lining of the outside of heart
Pericardium – lines the cavity (one with epicardium)
What endothelial ion change causes release of nitric oxide?
A rise in intracellular calcium.
NO then diffuses into vascular smooth muscle cells and causes hyperpolarisation with a fall in intracellular Ca2+ in myocytes.
Result: vasodilatation
Describe NO synthesis + how it affects blood vessels
Vascular endothelial cells produce NO from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in response to raised shear stress from blood flow.
eNOS is activated by a rise in intracellular calcium.
NO then diffuses into vascular smooth muscle cells and causes hyperpolarisation with a fall in intracellular Ca2+ in myocytes.
Result: vasodilatation
How is a rise in blood pressure signalled to the CNS?
Increased firing in CN IX afferents from carotid sinus
In an ECG what does the P, Q, R, S + T represent?
P – Arterial depolarisation (systole)
QRS – Ventricular depolarisation (systole)
T – Ventricular repolarisation (diastole)
What is the anterior interventricular artery a branch of?
L coronary artery
Which arteries arise directly from the ascending thoracic aorta?
Coronary, brachiocephalic, L. common carotid, L subclavian
What are chronotropic, and inotropic agents?
Chronotropic - Change the heart rate.
Inotropic - Modifying the force contraction of muscles.
Give examples of positive + negative inotropic agents.
+ve = digoxin, insulin, catecholamines (A, NA)
-ve = beta-blockers, some calcium channel blockers
What does the P-R interval, S-T segment + Q-T interval on an ECG indicate?
P-R interval – Delay at AVN
S-T segment – interval between ventricular depolarisation + repolarisation
Q-T interval – Total time for ventricular depolarisation to repolarisation (prolongation or shortening increases risk of arrhythmias). It’s inversely proportional to HR.
What class of drug is calcium-channel blockers + what effects does it have?
Negative chronotropic
- Reduces HR
- Vasodilation
Negative inotrope
- Reduce force of contraciton
- Reduce aldosterone production (blocking channels of adrenal cortex) —> decreases BP
What class of drug is digoxin + what affects does it have?
Digoxin is a = +ve inotrope, -ve chronotrope
Increases force of contraction, reduces HR.
What does ACh do to the HR?
Which receptors does it target?
Targets muscarinic (M2) cholinergic receptors and decreases HR.
MoA: inhibition of T-type Ca2+ channels + activation of K+ GIRK channel. K+ efflux
–> hyperpolarised