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Cardiovascular Flashcards

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1
Q

Define an artery

A

Thick-walled, muscular vessels that carry blood away from the heart

Usually carry oxygenated blood; the exception; the pulmonary arteries
They have the ability to dilate and contract due to signals from the nervous system

They help to regulate blood pressure together with contraction of the left ventricle

Smallest arteries are called Arterioles.

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2
Q

Define a vein

A

Thin walled blood vessels that carry blood to the heart

Usually carry deoxygenated blood; the exception; pulmonary veins

Veins have valves which keeps blood moving in one direction – back up towards the heart.

Valves are necessary as veins operate under low pressure

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3
Q

Define a capillaries

A

Between the tiny Arterioles and Venules, at tissue level, are a network of blood vessels called Capillaries

•They are the smallest of all blood vessels, microscopic, have thin walls, and are only one cell thick

•They contain less than five percent of the total circulating blood volume at any one time

•About ten billion capillaries lace all body tissues, bringing blood and therefore oxygen and nutrients within reach of every cell.

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4
Q

What is the tunica adventitia

A

Outer fibrous sheath

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5
Q

What is the tunica íntima

A

Inner lining

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6
Q

What is the tunica media

A

Middle - elastic muscle tissue
◦Larger in arteries

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7
Q

Define the lumen

A

oInner channel of smooth muscle through which blood flows freely

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8
Q

Define the mediastinum

A

The Mediastinum refers to the space between the lungs that extends from the sternum, back to the vertebral column

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9
Q

Where is the base of the heart

A

is at the top anatomically, where the main vessels enter and exit the chambers.

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10
Q

Where is the apex of the heart

A

the point of the heart; lies at the bottom, on the diaphragm (at the 5th intercostal space)

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11
Q

What is the endocardium

A

The inner lining of the hearts chambers

•Smooth glistening layer of epithelial cells

•Allows for smooth blood-flow through the chambers

•Continuous to the inner lining of the blood vessels.

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12
Q

What is the myocardium

A

Muscular part of heart

•Allows for the pumping action of the heart

•It makes up most of the bulk of the heart.

•The highest percentage of muscle is around the left ventricle.

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13
Q

What is the pericardium/ epicardium

A

The outer layer of the heart
•The visceral layer is called the Epicardium
•It secretes the serous fluid.
•Pericardial cavity contains the serous fluid
•Prevents friction during heart contractions.
•Surrounded by the fibrous sac enclosing the heart to which the parietal layer is fixed.

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14
Q

What is the superior vena cava

A

The largest vein in the body

•Transports deoxygenated blood from the head, arms and upper body into the right atrium

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15
Q

What is the inferior vena cava

A

Transports blood from the lower body to the right atrium

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16
Q

What is the function of the right atrium

A

Receives blood from both Vena Cavae.

◦Blood is pushed through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle

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17
Q

What is the function of the right ventricle

A

Receives blood from the right atrium and pushes blood through the pulmonary/pulmonic valve into the Pulmonary Arteries

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18
Q

What do the pulmonary arteries

A

The pulmonary artery carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs
•The only artery that carries de-oxygenated blood
•It divides into two branches – one for each lung
•Gaseous exchange occurs in the alveoli.

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19
Q

What is the function of the pulmonary veins

A

Following metabolic gaseous exchange…

•The pulmonary veins carry blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart
•The only veins that carry oxygen-rich blood
•There are four pulmonary veins, two from each lung

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20
Q

What is the function of the left atrium

A

Receives blood from the pulmonary veins.
•Blood is then pushed through the Mitral/Bicuspid valve into the left ventricle

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21
Q

What is the function of the left ventricle

A

The main pump
•Receives blood from the left atrium and pushes blood through the Aortic Valve into the Aorta.

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22
Q

What is the aorta

A

The body’s largest blood vessel, arches out of the heart and down toward the lower body

•Carries oxygenated blood to the whole body

The aorta is divided into several parts:

•the ascending aorta
•the arch of the aorta
•the thoracic and abdominal portions of the descending aorta

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23
Q

What is the function of the coronary arteries

A

The exclusive arterial blood supply to the heart muscle and electrical conduction system
•They originate in the aorta just above the aortic valve

•This system of small arteries that branch from the Aorta, cross over the hearts surface, dividing and sending tiny branches into the heart muscle
•There are 2 main coronary arteries
◦The left coronary artery
◦The right coronary artery

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24
Q

What is the function of the left coronary artery

A

Left Coronary Artery
•Supplies the left ventricle, the intra-ventricular septum, and part of the right ventricle
•Anterior descending branch
•Circumflex branch

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25
What is the function of the right coronary artery
Right Coronary Artery •Supplies the right atrium and ventricle and part of the left ventricle •Posterior descending branch
26
What is the definition of cardiac electrophysiology
An electrophysiology (EP) study is a test performed to assess your heart's electrical system or activity and is used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia.”
27
Define automaticity
Cells can depolarise without any impulse from outside source ( a process called self excitation)
28
Define excitability
Cells can respond to an electrical stimulus
29
Define conductivity
Cells can propagate the electrical impulse from cell to cell
30
Define contractility
The specialised ability of the cardiac muscle cells to contract
31
What is the SA node
◦60 to 100 bpm •Heart’s normal pacemaker ◦Located in the wall of the right atrium near where the superior vena cave enters the heart
32
Define the internodal pathways
The internodal pathways consist of three bands, (anterior, middle, and posterior), that lead directly from the SA node to the next node in the conduction system, the atrioventricular node. The impulse takes approximately 50ms (milliseconds) to travel between these two nodes.
33
Define the Bachmanns bundle
Bachmann’s bundle (BB), also known as the interatrial bundle, is well recognized as a muscular bundle comprising of parallel aligned myocardial strands connecting the right and left atrial walls and is considered to be the main pathway of interatrial conduction.
34
Define the atrioventricular node
Located near the atrioventricular valves ◦Stimulated by the impulse from the SA node ◦Electrically connects the atria and ventricles ◦Capable of initiating impulses ◦If SA node fails, the AV node should take over the pacemaker function ◦40-60 bpm approximately
35
Define the bundle of his
Electrical pathway from AV node to the ventricles ◦Divides into left and right bundle branches at top of inter-ventricular septum
36
Define the right bundle branch
Located in the right ventricular septum ◦Conducts impulses from right Bundle of His to Purkinje fibres in right ventricle
37
Define the left bundle branch
Located in left ventricular septum ◦Conducts impulses from left Bundle of His to Purkinje fibres in left ventricle
38
Define the purkinje fibres
Spread from base of septum into the walls of the ventricles ◦If both nodes, (SA and AV), fail to initiate an impulse, the fibres can initiate an impulse, (approximately 20-40 bpm).
39
Define the isoelectric line
baseline or isoelectric line, is represented as a straight line on the ECG paper where there is no positive or negative charges of electricity to create deflections.
40
Define depolarisation
Depolarisation is the process or the act by which polarity is eliminated. Depolarisation is essential because it allows the transmission of electrical signals (impulses) within the cell, and in certain instances, from one cell to another.
41
Define repolarisation
Repolarisation of the heart is the orderly return of each cell to its polarised state, cell by cell, until all are polarized again.
42
Define systole
Refers to the contraction / active phase of a chamber •Occurs when the muscle reacts to electrical activity •Blood will be pushed from the chambers.
43
Define diastole
Refers to the relaxation phase of a chamber. •While relaxed, the chambers should fill with blood
44
How long does the cardiac cycle take to complete in a healthy adult
0.8 seconds
45
How long does contraction of the atria take
0.1
46
How long does ventricular systole( contraction of the ventricles ) take
0.3 seconds
47
How long does relaxation of the atria and ventricles take
0.4 seconds
48
What is stage one of the heartbeat cycle
Atrial systole (stage 1)- contraction ◦Impulse from the SA node initiates this phase ◦Atria contract, squeezing blood into the ventricles
49
What is stage two of the heartbeat cycle
Ventricular Diastole (stage 2)- relaxation ◦At the same time as the Atria contract, the ventricles relax and fill with blood from the atria. Most blood is filled passively through gravity, and the remainder through atrial contraction
50
What is stage 3 of the heartbeat cycle
Ventricular Systole (stage 3)- contraction ◦The ventricles contract ◦Pulmonary and Aortic Valves open and blood is forced into the pulmonary artery and the aorta
51
What is stage 4 of the heartbeat cycle
Atrial Diastole (stage 4)- relaxation ◦Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium from Vena Cava ◦Oxygenated blood enters the left atrium from Pulmonary Veins
52
Define the T wave
Repolarisation of the atria and ventricles. ◦Following the heartbeat and the dual-pumping of blood from the heart’s chambers, the cells need to recharge to facilitate the next cycle.
53
Define an electrocardiogram
An Electrocardiogram is a recording of the heart’s electrical activity; over a period of time; as series of waves and complexes which is then displayed as a graph to record what has been assessed.
54
How long is one small square on a ECG
0.04
55
How long is one large square on a ECG paper
0.2 seconds
56
How long is 5 large squares on a ECG paper
1 seconds
57
How long is thirty large squares on a ECG paper
6 seconds
58
How long is the PR interval
0.12 - 0.2 seconds
59
How long is the QRS complex
<0.12 seconds ( less than 3 small squares)
60
Define the P wave
06/04/2022 LIFELINE AMBULANCE SERVICE EDUCATION •P-Wave ◦Represents depolarisation (electrical activity) of the atria ◦Impulse from the SA node initiates this phase. ◦Is usually followed by contraction of the atria.
61
Define the PR interval
Depolarisation of the Atria and the delay at the AV Junction ◦This phase is normally 0.12 – 0.20 seconds OR 3 – 5 small squares.
62
Define the QRS complex
Represents depolarisation (electrical activity) of the ventricles ◦This phase is normally 0.12 seconds OR 3 small squares. ◦Is usually followed by contraction of the ventricles
63
Define the ST segment
oThe line from the end of the QRS Complex to beginning of the T-Wave oIt should be at the same level as the iso-electric line oAn elevated OR depressed ST segment may indicate myocardial ischaemia or injury.
64
Define the T wave
Repolarisation of the atria and ventricles. ◦The atrial repolarization wave is small and is buried within the QRS complex. ◦The larger ventricular T wave follows the QRS complex, and is visible on the ECG.
65
Define the RR interval
The time elapsed between two successive R waves of the QRS Complexes •It represents the interval between two ventricular depolarisations (contractions) and gives an indication of Heart Rate.

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