Cardiovascular system Flashcards
What can we see from the jugular veins?
right atrial pressure
Differences between external & internal jugular veins
External: smaller, more superficial & visible
Internal: larger, invisible, diffused pulsations may be seen in the sternal notch *more reliable for assessment
Describe internal jugular pulse (location, quality, respiration, palpable, pressure, position)
Location: lower, more lateral, under & behind sternomastoid muscle
Quality: Undulant & diffuse; 2 waves/ cycle
respiration: varies, level descends during inspiration
Not palpable
Pressure: light pressure at the base of the neck easily obliterates
Position: level of pulse drops & disappears as person sits up
Describe carotid pulse (location, quality, respiration, palpable, pressure, position)
Location: higher, medial to the muscle
Quality: brisk & localised, 1 wave/ cycle
Does not vary during respiration
Palpable
Pressure: no change
Position: unaffected
What are bruits (in carotid artery)
a blowing, swishing sound indicating blood flow turbulence (due to eg atherosclerotic narrowing/ occluded)
6 places to palpate peripheral pulses
Brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis
Location & shape of the heart
Location: 2-5 ICS; right border of the sternum to the left midclavicular line
Shape: upside down triangle;
Base is at 3rd costal cartilage, apex at 5th ICS 7-9cm from the mid-sternal line
3 parts of heart wall and their function
Pericardium: protection
Myocardium: muscular
Endocardium: heart chamber & valves
how are heart sounds produced?
Closure of
AV valves (tricuspid & mitral) - S1 (loudest at apex)
Semilunar valves (pulmonic & aortic) - S2 (loudest at base)
What is S3? + cause
(aka ventricular gallop) (normal in kids)
heard after S2, beginning of diastolic stage
Cause: ventricles resists to fill (could be congestive heart failure, mitral, aortic/ tricuspid regugitation
What is S4? +cause
(aka atrial gallop)
heard before S1, end of diastolic stage
Cause: ventricles resist to fill (could be aortic stenosis, systemic hypertension)
What are heart murmurs + possible cause
Gentle blowing, swooshing sound
occurs with turbulent blood flow in the heart/ great vessels due to congenital defects of valves & heart disease
possible cause: increase blood velocity (exercise), decrease blood viscosity (anemia), valve dysfunction (stenosis & regurgitation)
