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Cardiovascular Physiology Flashcards

(56 cards)

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1
Q

What are the three main components of the cardiovascular system?

A
  1. Heart – the pump
    1. Blood vessels – conduits for blood flow
    2. Blood – the transport medium
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2
Q

What are the primary functions of the cardiovascular system?

A

• Transport of oxygen and nutrients to tissues
• Removal of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste
• Distribution of hormones
• Regulation of body temperature, pH, and fluid balance
• Protection via immune responses and clotting mechanisms

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3
Q

What is the direction of blood flow through the heart and circulation?

A

• Right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary circulation → left atrium → left ventricle → systemic circulation

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4
Q

What is pulmonary circulation?

A

The portion of circulation that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium.

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5
Q

What is systemic circulation?

A

The portion of circulation that carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body and returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

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6
Q

What distinguishes arteries from veins?

A

• Arteries: carry blood away from the heart (usually oxygenated, except in pulmonary artery)
• Veins: carry blood toward the heart (usually deoxygenated, except in pulmonary vein)

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7
Q

What are the four chambers of the heart?

A
  1. Right atrium
    1. Right ventricle
    2. Left atrium
    3. Left ventricle
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8
Q

What separates the left and right sides of the heart?

A

• The interatrial septum separates the atria
• The interventricular septum separates the ventricles

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9
Q

What is the function of the atria?

A

To receive blood returning to the heart and deliver it to the ventricles.

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10
Q

What is the function of the ventricles?

A

To pump blood out of the heart —
• Right ventricle → pulmonary circulation
• Left ventricle → systemic circulation

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11
Q

What are the atrioventricular (AV) valves and their functions?

A

• Tricuspid valve: between right atrium and right ventricle
• Mitral (bicuspid) valve: between left atrium and left ventricle
→ Prevent backflow from ventricles into atria during systole

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12
Q

What are the semilunar valves and their functions?

A

• Pulmonary valve: between right ventricle and pulmonary artery
• Aortic valve: between left ventricle and aorta
→ Prevent backflow from arteries into ventricles during diastole

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13
Q

What structures prevent valve prolapse during ventricular contraction?

A

• Chordae tendineae attached to
• Papillary muscles, which contract during systole to hold valve leaflets closed

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14
Q

How is cardiac muscle similar to skeletal and smooth muscle?

A

• Striated like skeletal muscle
• Involuntary like smooth muscle
• Has intercalated discs, gap junctions, and branching fibers

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15
Q

What structures prevent valve prolapse during ventricular contraction?

A

• Chordae tendineae attached to
• Papillary muscles, which contract during systole to hold valve leaflets closed

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16
Q

What are intercalated discs, and what is their function?

A

Specialized structures between cardiac muscle cells that contain gap junctions (for electrical coupling) and desmosomes (for mechanical strength).

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17
Q

What are the components of the heart’s conduction system?

A
  1. Sinoatrial (SA) node
    1. Atrioventricular (AV) node
    2. Bundle of His (AV bundle)
    3. Right and left bundle branches
    4. Purkinje fibers
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18
Q

What is the function of the SA node?

A

Acts as the pacemaker of the heart — generates spontaneous action potentials that initiate each heartbeat.

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19
Q

What is the function of the AV node?

A

Delays the conduction of impulses to allow atrial contraction before ventricular contraction.

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20
Q

What is an action potential in cardiac muscle composed of (phases)?

A
  1. Phase 0: Rapid depolarization (Na⁺ influx)
    1. Phase 1: Initial repolarization (Na⁺ inactivation, K⁺ out)
    2. Phase 2: Plateau (Ca²⁺ influx balances K⁺ out)
    3. Phase 3: Repolarization (K⁺ efflux)
    4. Phase 4: Resting potential (Na⁺/K⁺ pump active)
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20
Q

What is the sequence of electrical conduction through the heart?

A

SA node → atria → AV node → Bundle of His → bundle branches → Purkinje fibers → ventricles

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21
Q

What is the cardiac cycle?

A

One complete heartbeat — consisting of atrial systole, ventricular systole, and diastole — during which the heart chambers contract and relax to pump blood.

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22
Q

What are the phases of the cardiac cycle?

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. Atrial systole
    1. Isovolumetric contraction
    2. Ventricular ejection
    3. Isovolumetric relaxation
    4. Ventricular filling
23
Q

What happens during atrial systole?

Study These Flashcards
A

Atria contract to push blood into the ventricles; AV valves are open, semilunar valves are closed.

24
What is isovolumetric contraction?
Ventricles contract with no change in volume because all valves are closed; pressure rises rapidly.
25
What occurs during ventricular ejection?
When ventricular pressure exceeds arterial pressure, semilunar valves open, and blood is ejected into the aorta and pulmonary artery.
26
What is isovolumetric relaxation?
Ventricles relax, but all valves remain closed → pressure falls without volume change.
27
What happens during ventricular filling?
AV valves open → blood flows from atria into ventricles (passive filling + final top-up from atrial systole).
28
What are the first and second heart sounds (S₁ and S₂)?
• S₁ (“lub”): closure of AV valves (start of systole) • S₂ (“dub”): closure of semilunar valves (start of diastole)
29
What are S₃ and S₄ heart sounds, and are they normally heard?
• S₃: occurs during rapid ventricular filling; normal in young people, abnormal in adults (may indicate heart failure) • S₄: caused by atrial contraction against stiff ventricle; always abnormal (e.g., LV hypertrophy)
30
What is cardiac output (CO)?
The volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per minute. 🧠 CO = Heart Rate (HR) × Stroke Volume (SV)
31
What is a normal resting cardiac output?
Approximately 5 liters/minute in a healthy adult.
32
What is stroke volume (SV) and what influences it?
The amount of blood ejected by a ventricle per beat. Affected by: • Preload • Afterload • Contractility
33
Define preload.
The initial stretch of the cardiac muscle fibers (ventricular wall tension) due to venous return; related to end-diastolic volume (EDV).
34
Define afterload.
The resistance the ventricles must overcome to eject blood; related to aortic and arterial pressure.
35
What is contractility, and how is it modulated?
The intrinsic ability of cardiac muscle to contract at a given preload. ↑ by sympathetic stimulation and catecholamines (↑ Ca²⁺ influx)
36
What is ejection fraction (EF) and how is it calculated?
The percentage of EDV ejected per beat. EF = (SV / EDV) × 100% Normal: 55–70%
37
What factors increase heart rate?
• Sympathetic stimulation • Catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine) • Exercise • Decreased parasympathetic tone
38
What factors decrease heart rate?
• Parasympathetic stimulation (vagus nerve) • Beta-blockers • Rest/sleep
39
What is blood pressure (BP)?
The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, typically measured in arteries.
40
What are systolic and diastolic pressures?
• Systolic pressure: peak pressure during ventricular contraction • Diastolic pressure: lowest pressure during ventricular relaxation
41
How is mean arterial pressure (MAP) calculated?
MAP ≈ Diastolic pressure + 1/3 (Pulse pressure) Where Pulse pressure = Systolic – Diastolic
42
What determines blood pressure?
BP = Cardiac Output × Total Peripheral Resistance (TPR)
43
What factors determine vascular resistance?
According to Poiseuille’s Law: • Radius of the vessel (most important; resistance ∝ 1/r⁴) • Length of the vessel • Viscosity of blood
44
What is compliance in blood vessels?
The ability of vessels (especially arteries) to expand and recoil with changes in pressure. Compliance = ΔVolume / ΔPressure
45
What is the difference between arteries and veins in terms of compliance?
•Veins are more compliant (can store more blood at lower pressure) • Arteries are less compliant but maintain pressure
46
What is the role of arterioles in circulation?
They are the main resistance vessels and regulate blood flow into capillary beds and systemic vascular resistance.
47
What are baroreceptors, and where are they located?
•Stretch-sensitive receptors that detect changes in arterial pressure • Located in the carotid sinus and aortic arch
48
What are the main mechanisms of capillary exchange?
1. Diffusion – for gases, nutrients, and waste 2. Filtration – movement of fluid out due to hydrostatic pressure 3. Reabsorption – movement of fluid in due to oncotic pressure 4. Transcytosis – vesicular transport for large molecules
49
What is Starling’s law of capillaries?
Fluid movement across capillaries is governed by the balance between: • Capillary hydrostatic pressure (Pc) • Interstitial hydrostatic pressure (Pi) • Plasma oncotic pressure (πc) • Interstitial oncotic pressure (πi) 🧠 Net Filtration Pressure (NFP) = (Pc − Pi) − (πc − πi)
50
What favors filtration at the arterial end of capillaries?
High capillary hydrostatic pressure (Pc) > oncotic pressure → net movement of fluid out of the capillary.
51
What favors reabsorption at the venous end of capillaries?
Lower hydrostatic pressure + higher oncotic pressure → net fluid movement into the capillary.
52
What factors assist venous return to the heart?
• Skeletal muscle pump • Respiratory (thoracic) pump • Venous valves • Sympathetic vasoconstriction of veins
53
What favors reabsorption at the venous end of capillaries?
Lower hydrostatic pressure + higher oncotic pressure → net fluid movement into the capillary.
54
What is the role of the medullary cardiovascular center?
Located in the medulla oblongata; integrates sensory input (e.g., from baroreceptors) and modulates heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone via autonomic output.
55
Which hormones regulate cardiovascular function?
• Adrenaline/Noradrenaline – ↑ HR & vasoconstriction • Angiotensin II – vasoconstriction, ↑ BP • Aldosterone – ↑ Na⁺ and water retention • ADH (vasopressin) – ↑ water reabsorption • Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) – vasodilation, ↓ blood volume

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