Heart and cardiovascular system Flashcards
What is the pulmonary circulation?
Carries blood to and from the lungs to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen
What is the systemic circulation?
Carries blood to the rest of the body
Is blood transported/returned via arteries or veins?
Transported via arteries and returned via veins
What is the microcirculation?
Where things enter and leave the cardiovascular system- water oxygen, co2, nutrients and waste products
Where do arteries carry blood away from?
The heart
Where do arterioles carry blood to?
Capillaries
What is the cardiac cycle?
The sequence of depolarisation and repolarisation of cardiac muscle giving rise to an electrical cycle of activity in the atria and ventricles
What is the primary cause of coronary artery disease?
Atherosclerosis
What are the non modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?
Age, gender, family history, ethnicity (50% more likely for south asians)
What are the modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?
Dyslipidaemia, diet, alcohol hypertension, T2D, smoking, inactivity, medications and recreational drug use
What is atherosclerosis?
Formed by atheroma- fatty plaque formed on the inside of blood vessels, artery walls can become narrowed, less blood is delivered
What is cholesterol?
A lipid molecule, synthesised by animal cells, essential for life as allows cells to survive without a cell wall and helps synthesis of vitamin D, steroid hormones and formation of bile acids
Where is cholesterol mostly synthesised?
The liver
What is ‘good’ cholesterol?
HDL- transfers fats away from cells towards the liver
What do statins do?
Lower hepatic synthesis of cholesterol, more clearance of LDL which means better ratio between HDL and LDL
