Cardiovascular System

Question 1

The cardiovascular system is responsible for what?

Answer 1

It is responsible for transporting metabolites to and from tissues; regulates blood flow mainly by altering the capacity of the vasculature and volume of blood it holds.

Question 2

What is Afterload?

Answer 2

It is the load against which an activated muscle must try to shorten; greater afterloads result in lower velocities.

Question 3

What are Baroreceptors?

Answer 3

They are pressure-sensitive nerve endings in the walls of the atria of the heart, the vena cava, the aortic arch, and the carotid sinus.

Question 4

What is Cardiac Output?

Answer 4

The volume of blood pumped per minute by the heart.

Question 5

What is Cardiac Tamponade?

Answer 5

Compression of the heart caused by the collection of blood, fluid, or gas under pressure in the pericardium.

Question 6

What are Chemoreceptors?

Answer 6

Sensory nerve cells activated by changes in the chemical environment surrounding it; the chemoreceptors in the carotid artery are sensitive to PCO2 in the blood, signaling the respiratory center in the brain to increase or decrease ventilation.

Question 7

What is congestive heart failure?

Answer 7

An abnormal condition that reflects impaired cardiac output, caused by MI, ischemic heart disease, or cardiomyopathy.

Question 8

What is Contractility?

Answer 8

Property of muscle tissue to shorten in response to a stimulus, usually electrical.

Question 9

What is End-diastolic volume (EDV)?

Answer 9

The volume of blood remaining in the ventricles just prior to contraction.

Question 10

What is End-systolic volume (ESV)?

Answer 10

The volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of contraction (systole).

Question 11

What is negative inotropism?

Answer 11

A decrease in contractility of the heart.

Question 12

What is the pericardium?

Answer 12

The fibrous, serous sac that surrounds the heart and roots of the great vessels.

Question 13

What is positive inotropism?

Answer 13

An increase in the contractility of the muscle tissue.

Question 14

What is Preload?

Answer 14

The pressure stretching the ventricular walls at the onset of ventricular contraction.

Question 15

What is Stenosis?

Answer 15

The narrowing of a valve or vessel.

Question 16

What is Stroke Volume?

Answer 16

The volume of blood ejected by the left ventricle during each contraction.

Question 17

What is vasoconstriction?

Answer 17

The narrowing of the blood vessels.

Question 18

What is vasodilation?

Answer 18

The widening or distension of blood vessels, particularly arterioles, usually caused by nerve impulses or certain drugs that relax smooth muscle in the walls of the blood vessels.

Question 19

What are the two major subdivisions of the vascular system?

Answer 19

The systemic vasculature and pulmonary vasculature.

Question 20

What are the three major components of the systemic vasculature?

Answer 20

Arterial system, capillary system, and venous system.

Question 21

What are the four mechanisms that aid in venous return to the heart?

Answer 21

(1) Sympathetic venous tone
(2) Skeletal muscle pumping
(3) Cardiac suction,
(4) Thoracic pressure differences caused by respiratory efforts.

Question 22

What is an anatomic shunt?

Answer 22

Whenever venous blood mixes with arterial blood the overall oxygen count decreases.

Question 23

The atrioventricular valves close during what?

Answer 23

It closes during systole (contraction of the ventricles), preventing backflow of blood into the atria. Closure of these valves provides a critical period of isovolumic contraction, during which chamber pressures quickly increase just before ejection of the blood.

Question 24

What is the capillary system?

Answer 24

Microcirculation maintains a constant exchange of nutrients and waste products for the cells and tissues of the body.

Question 25

What are some common valve problems?

Answer 25

Regurgitation and stenosis.

Question 26

What is conductivity?

Answer 26

The ability of myocardial tissue to spread, or radiate electrical impulses.

Question 27

What is contractility?

Answer 27

In response to an electrical impulse is the primary function of the myocardium.

Question 28

What is the coronary sinus?

Answer 28

Passes left to right across the posterior surface of the heart. The coronary sinus empties into the right atrium between the opening of the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve.