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Anatomy and Physiology > Cardiovascular system > Flashcards

Cardiovascular system Flashcards

(64 cards)

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1
Q

Function of the CV system (4)

A
  • transport (of blood and its contents)
  • maintenance (of homeostasis)
  • protection (against infection).
  • maintenance of hydration (through plasma changes)
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2
Q

What does the CV system consist of (3)

A
  • A fluid medium (blood)
  • A system of channels (blood vessels aka the vascular system
  • A pump (the heart)
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3
Q

What are the two CV components

A

1- The pulmonary circuit – Which moves blood to and from the lungs

2- The systematic circuit – Which moves blood to and from the rest of the body

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4
Q

Where is the heart located

A

In the thoracic cavity, near the anterior chest wall, directly posterior to the sternum. It sits between the two lungs.

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5
Q

What does the right atrium do

A

Receives blood from the systematic circuit and passes it to the right ventricle

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6
Q

What does the left atrium do

A

Receives blood from the pulmonary circuit and passes it to the right ventricle.

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7
Q

What does the right ventricle do

A

Receives blood from the right atrium and pumps It into the pulmonary circuit

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8
Q

What does the left ventricle do

A

Receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it into the systematic circuit.

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9
Q

How often does the heart contract, and whats its cardiac output

A

More than 100,000 times a day, 70/min
5L/min at rest and 15-20L/min at exercise

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10
Q

How does the heart contract

A

It squeezes from top down in the atriums, and bottom to top in the ventricles to ensure the correct flow of blood

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11
Q

What are the three layers of the heart wall from outside to inside layer

A

Pericardium
Myocardium
Endocardium

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12
Q

Structure of the pericardium

A

Has a fibrous connective tissue outer layer made from collagen fibres. This provides stability by interactions with sternum/diaphragm and attachment to the great vessels that leave the heart

Also a serous membrane (two layered membrane seperated by pericardial fluid) which provides lubrication

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13
Q

Structure of the myocardium

A

Thick muscular layer that is the middle of the heart wall. Thickness varies based on what chamber. LV has the thickest as it does most work.

Has a large central nucleus and a large number of mitochondria.

There are interconnections with other cardiac cells via intercalated discs

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14
Q

Structure of the endocardium

A

The innermost layer of the heart wall.

It covers all the inner surfaces of the internal chambers and heart valves and prevents blood from sticking.

It consists of epithelial tissue and is continuous with the epithelium of the great vessels

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15
Q

How are cardiac cells connected, and the two types

A

Via intercalated disks which ensure atrial and ventricle fibres contract in synchronicity
Can be:

  • Gap junctions = Allow depoalrisation to pass between cells synchronising muscle contraction
  • Desmosomes = Bind adjacent myocytes together
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16
Q

How are the cardiac cells intercalated disks controlled

A

involuntarily due to auto-rhythmicity, where the cardiac/muscle tissue depolarise by themselves
This is influenced by myogenic, autonomic nervouse and endocrine system

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17
Q

How do the two ventricles differ and why

A

Both hold the same amount of blood but the left is thick and cylindrical in shape, whereas the right is thinner and pouch like.

This is because the LV has to pump blood at about 80-100mmHg to the systematic circuit, and the RV pumps at less than 15mmHg to the pulmonary circuit

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18
Q

How does training effect the heart

A

Can increase size of LV, E
-Endurance training increasing volume
-Resistance training increases wall sizes has to pump blood at a higher pressure

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19
Q

What happens to the valves during atrial contraction

A

the atrioventricular valves lock shut to prevent the flow back up. .

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20
Q

How are heart valves attached

A

By chordae tendineae that link the valves to papillary muscles.

These are what are known as the heart strings and become tight during ventricle contraction and hold it tight to prevent backflow (inversion of the valves

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21
Q

What is the pacemaker of the heart

A

Sinoatrial node

It is autorhythmic and can depolarise by itself. SA stimulates the contraction of fibres which leads to the AV node, where there Is a brief delay (to ensure the atrium is emptied) before it basses the signal to 3 (AV bundle).

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22
Q

How can the heart rate change (5)

A

The autonomic nervous system

Catecholamines (adrenaline and other hormones from parasympathetic nervous system)

Changes in O2/CO2 levels

Changes in blood pressure

Exercise, fight or flight

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23
Q

How does the ANS control the heart

A

The sympathetic nervous system – increases the heart rate

The parasympathetic – Slows the heart rate

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24
Q

When do the components of the ANS dominate heart control

A

Para = At rest
Sympathetic = during exercise

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25
How does catecholamines (adrenalin) effect heart rate
Released by the adrenal medulla upon activation of sympathetic nerves innervating the tissue. They are released during exercise, stress and anxiety. It increases the heart rate and the contractility
26
How does noradrenaline effect heart rate
It is released by the adrenal medulla, but mostly from spillover from sympathetic nerves Provides an initial increase in heart rate and contractility, but after longer exposure leads to lower levels of both.
27
How do adrenaline and noradrenaline effect the heart
By binding to adrenergic receptors on the heart
28
What do Chemoreceptors do
Monitor chemical characteristics of the blood (CO2 and pH) to regulate the function of the CV and respiratory systems.
29
What does the atrial system do
Carry oxygen rich blood from the heart to the body’s tissues
30
What does the venous system do
Carry oxygen poor blood back to the heart
31
What do capillaries do
Connect veins and arteries, and are the sites of material exchange
32
Which system (atrial or venous) has higher pressure
Atrial has higher pressure then Venus system as it needs a pressure gradient for blood to flow to extremes of the body. If the venous system was higher blood would go backwards
33
What does the capillary bed do, and describe their structure
They are the location for exchange between blood and the interstitial tissue of nutrients and waste. Smallest blood vessel, with thin walls. Form a mesh like pathway between Atrial and venule systems.
34
What is the Atriovenous anastomosis (AVA)
A low resistance pathway that can surpass the capillary bed that is involved in rapid control of blood flow, like during temperature regulation
35
Where are clots more likely to happen
In the capillary bed
36
What is the order of flow of blood from the heart around the body (6)
Heart Artery Capillary Venule Vein Heart
37
What are the three levels of blood vessel structure from outer to inner
Tunica Externa Tunica Media Tunica intima
38
What does the tunica intima do
Encompasses the endothelial lining which coats the blood vessel Contains connective tissue to ensure its tight association with the tunica media
39
Function of the tunica Media and structure
Regulates blood flow and pressure by controlling the vessel's diameter. Contains smooth muscle : elastic fibres in arteries and collagen in veins. It binds to the inner and outer layers, whilst having an external elastic membrane that separates it from the externa
40
What does the tunica externa do
Anchors vessels to adjacent tissues providing structural support, and contains collagen and elastic fibres, as well as smooth muscle cells in veins
41
What does the endothelium do to control blood flow
It releases a vasoactive substance, which are chemicals that can cause vasodilation or constriction, to effect blood pressure and flow It also maintains vascular homeostasis
42
WHat are examples of vasodilators and constrictors
Dilators = nitric oxide Constrictors = Endothelin
43
What are vaso vasorums
Are vessels that serve the cells of the arteries and veins, (the tunica media and externa
44
How does the elasticity of blood vessels change
Arteries like the aorta, are more elastic, so they take some of the pressure and use it to propel the blood flow, so the pressure from the pump isnt lost.
45
Which vessels will have more muscle tissue
Arteries - like the femoral, as they have to withstand higher pressure of blood flow, and so it is capable of greater dilation or constriction
46
How does capillaries tunica structure compare
eate changes in blood pressure and flow.
47
Structure of capillaries
An endothelial tube inside a thin basement membrane, no tunica media or externa. High surface area compared to blood flow
48
Structure of capillary bed
A dense network of capillaries, with no smooth muscle. Increased density can be associated with training, especially endurance based
49
What are the 3 types of capillaires
Continous = most common, complete epithelial lining, only allows for diffusion of water and small solutes, with restricted permiability Fenestrated = Contains pores for greater permeability of molecules. Sinusoid = are more unorganised structures with larger gaps and pores for passage of larger molecules.
50
What are venous valves
created by folds in the tunica intima, they prevent the backflow of blood
51
How do varucus veins form
The compression of blood into bulges surrounding venous valves, and the subsequent weakening of walls
52
What does the smooth muscle in vein walls do
Allows for autonomic control over blood flow and pressure. The muscle can vasoconstrict in order to help with the propulsion of blood back to the heart
53
What determines total blood flow
Pressure and resistance
54
What must circulatory pressure overcome
The total peripheral resistance
55
When is blood at its highest pressure
When the aorta opens
56
What can determine peripheral blood flow resistance (3)
Vascular resistance - friction between well and blood Blood viscosity Turbulence (irregular flow)
57
What is chronic high and low blood pressure called
* Hypertension – abnormally high blood pressure >140/90 * Hypotension – Abnormally low blood pressure <90/60
58
What happens in response to exercise
* Increases in HR * Increase in Q (cardiac output) * Increase in systolic blood pressure * Redistribution of blood flow
59
What does blood redistribution describe and an example
Describe the blood flow to tissue in proportion to their metabolic demands Increase of blood to muscle cells during exercise
60
What regulates heart rate increase
Sympathetic NS, via the cardiac accelerator nerves, by stimulation the SA and AV nodes
61
What regulates heart rate decrease
Parasympathetic NS, via the vagus nerve by inhibiting the SA and AV node
62
What causes an increase in HR during exercise
THeinitial increase is due to para withdrawal, with the later increase due to increases in SNS stimulation
63
How can stroke volume be increased
1- Increased sympathetic nervous system activation – the circulating adrenaline and noradrenaline direct the stimulation of heart muscles 2- Increased diastolic volume (preload) can lead to increased stretch of the sarcomeres and increase the force of contraction. Training
64
What is the frank-starling mechanism
A theory suggesting that the force of contraction is proportional to fibre length

Anatomy and Physiology (8 decks)

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