Cardiovascular system Flashcards
(93 cards)
composition of blood
transport vehicle for electrolytes, proteins, gasses, nutrients, waste products and hormones.
blood composed by cells
- erythrocytes
- leucocytes
- platelets
- plasma
erythrocytes (red blood cells)
transports nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, waste products and hormones to cells and organs around the body
make up 40 - 45% of blood volume known as hematocrit. contain an oxygen-carrying pigment called hemoglobin, which gives blood its red color.
leucocytes (white blood cells)
protects us from disease, by destroying invasive microorganisms and toxic substances
1% of blood volume
platelets
protects us from bleeding to death, via clotting
1% of blood volume
plasma
acts as a regulator of temperature, the water content in cells, and body pH
anatomy of the heart
- heart
- atria
- ventricles
- valves
heart
involuntary muscle with striated muscle fibers (myocardium)
own blood supply via the coronary arteries
- branches off the aorta
- has its own set of veins
atria
(left & right) receiving blood from the body. Have thin walls because they only have to pump to the ventricles
ventricles
(left & right) they are thick as they propel blood from the heart to body
valves
prevent backflow by shutting when the heart relaxed
1. atrioventricular valves (tricuspid & bicuspid/mitral)
2. pulmonary and Aortic Semilunar Valve
process
- superior vena cava
2.right atrium - tricuspid valve
- right ventricle
- pulmonary valve
- pulmonary artery
- lungs (deoxygenated gets oxygenated)
- pulmonary veins
- left atrium
- mitral valve
- left ventricle
- aortic valve
- aorta
4 chambers
- right atrium
- right ventricle
- left atrium
- left ventricle
intrinsic regulation of heart
refers to mechanisms contained within heart itself. the force of contraction produced by cardiac muscle is related to the degree of stretch of cardiac muscle fibers
extrinsic regulation of heart
refers to mechanisms external to heart, such as either nervous or chemical regulation.
- nervous regulation: baroreceptor reflex
- chemical regulation: chemoreceptor reflex
intrinsic control
- control is entirely from within the issue or organ.
- uses paracrines or properties of muscle tissue.
- also known as autoregulation or local control
extrinsic control
- control is from outside of the tissue or organ.
- uses nerves or hormones
can the heart beat on its own?
- heart is able beat spookle after being separated from the body from its owner (as seen in horror films) is not totally a product of overactive imaginations.
- hearth can actually continue to beat for a number of hours if supplied with appropriate nutrients & salts.
- this is because heart has its own specialized conduction system & can beat independently of its nerve supply.
cardiac impulses / conduction system
- start in right atrium.
- a cardiac impulse is initiated from the sinoatrial (SA) node (pacemaker).
- the impulse causes the atria to contract.
- cardiac impulse reaches and activates the atrioventricular (AV) node.
- this passes the impulse down Bundle of His (in the septum of the heart).
- bundle of his splits left and right, up around the heart (purkinje fibers).
- the impulse is spread around the walls of the ventricles causing them to contract.
- ventricles relax and the cycle starts again.
cardiac cycle
- the complete sequence of events from the beginning of one heartbeat to the beginning of the next.
- an electrical impulse is conducted through the myocardium causing cardiac cycle.
- systolic (contraction) / diastolic (relaxation) pressures in the ventricles.
nervous system
- heart is also regulated by nervous system
- hormones, ion concentration and change in body temperature will influence heart rate
- heart is innervated by parasympathetic nerves that slow its rate & sympathetic nerves that speed it up
parasympathetic nerves
innervation originates in the cardiac centers in the medulla and passes to the heart by way of the vagus nerves
- when stimulated, these parasympathetic nerves release acetylcholine, which slows heart
vagus nerves
fibers richly supply the SA and AV nodes
acetylcholine
chief neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system that contracts smooth muscles, dilates blood vessels, increases bodily secretions and slows heart rate