Module 4: Physiology of the Cardiovascular System

Question 1

Blood flow through the heart basics (2)

Answer 1

1) Four internal valves assure one-way flow of blood

2) Double pump with two circuits
a) Pulmonary circuit (right)
b) Systemic circuit (left)

Question 2

Pulmonary circuit in the heart (3)

Answer 2

1) Goal: Send deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation

2) Right atrium through tricuspid valve into right ventricle

3) Exits right ventricle through pulmonary valve

Question 3

Pulmonary circuit to the lungs (3)

Answer 3

1) Pulmonary trunk to pulmonary arteries
a) Only arteries in heart carrying de-oxygenated blood

2) Lungs for exchange of gases

3) Pulmonary veins (now oxygenated) to left atrium

Question 4

Systemic circuit in the heart (6)

Answer 4

1) Goal: send oxygenated blood to the body tissues

2) Left atrium

3) Bicuspid/Mitral valve

4) Left ventricle

6) Aortic Valve to Aorta

Question 5

Systemic Circuit to the tissues (4)

Answer 5

1) Systemic Arteries

2) Systemic Veins (Parallel those of arteries)

3) Back to heart via Inferior/Superior Vena Cava

4) Right Atrium

Question 6

Blood Flow Through the Heart Summarized (6)

Answer 6

1) Right atrium through tricuspid valve

2) Right ventricle through pulmonary valve

3) Pulmonary trunk to pulmonary arteries

4) Lungs to pulmonary veins to left atrium

5) Bicuspid valve to left ventricle

5) Aortic valve to the aorta

Question 7

Bloodflow through the heart visual (memorize)

Answer 7

Question 8

Heartbeat basic facts (3)

Answer 8

1) Each heartbeat lasts about 0.85 seconds

2) Heart beats about 70x per minute

3) Must contract and relax in a cyclical pattern to act as a pump

Question 9

Two components of heartbeat (2)

Answer 9

1) Systole
a) Contraction of chambers

2) Diastole
b) Relaxation of chambers

Question 10

Phase 1 of cardiac cycle (4)

Answer 10

1) Lasts about 0.15 seconds

2) Atrial Systole: Atria Contract

3) Ventricular diastole: Ventricles are relaxed

4) Allows for maximum filling of the ventricles

Question 11

Phase 2 of cardiac cycle (4)

Answer 11

1) Lasts about 0.30 seconds

2) Ventricular systole: Ventricles Contract

3) Atrial diastole: Atria are relaxed

4) Allows for pumping of blood into pulmonic and systemic circuits

Question 12

Phase 3 of cardiac cycle (3)

Answer 12

1) Lasts about 0.40 seconds

2) All chambers relax

3) Passive filling of the atria

Question 13

Heart sounds (4)

Answer 13

1) Sounds as the valves of the heart close

2) Lub sound
a) Atrioventricular valves close
b) Bicuspid/tricuspid valves

3) Dub sound
a) Semilunar valves close
b) Aortic/pulmonic valves

4) Can be heard using a stethoscope

Question 14

Blood pressure (2)

Answer 14

1) Systolic pressure
a) Pressure in the arteries when blood is forced into the the arteries during ventricular systole
b) “Top number”

2) Diastolic pressure
a) Pressure in arteries during ventricular diastole
b) “Bottom number”

Question 15

Sphygmomanometer (2)

Answer 15

1) Medical equipment used to measure blood pressure

2) Measures the amount of pressure required to stop the flow of blood through the artery
a) Usual the brachial artery (in the arm)

Question 16

Sphygmomanometer picture (memorize)

Answer 16

Question 17

Sphygmomanometer components (6)

Answer 17

1) Bulb

2) Bladder
a) fills with air

3) Cuff
a) Wraps around arm, holds bladder in place over the artery

4) Valve
a) Releases pressure to allow blood to flow

5) Manometer
a) Displays the pressure in mmHG (millimeters mercury)

Question 18

Stethoscope (for blood pressure)

Answer 18

Used to listen to first and last sounds of the blood flow

Question 19

Blood pressure final reading (2)

Answer 19

1) Top/bottom
a) Systolic/Diastolic

2) 120/80 is considered healthy

Question 20

Systemic blood pressures (5)

Answer 20

1) Highest in the aorta

2) Falls within the arteries and arterioles

3) Difference in systolic vs. diastolic gradually diminishes

4) Capillaries:
a) Slow, even flow
b) Allows for diffusion of gasses and wastes

5) Veins
a) Very low, can even approach zero

Question 21

How can Veins return Blood to the Heart (3)

Answer 21

1) Low resistance in the venous walls
a) Ability to stretch to accommodate larger volume

2) Valves
a) One way

3) Assistance of muscular contraction
a) Contractions squeeze blood through veins, one-way due to valves

Question 22

Intrinsic Electrical Rhythm (2)

Answer 22

1) Electrical impulses enable the heart’s rhythmic pumping
a) Contracts the heart muscle tissue

2) Nervous and Endocrine systems help to regulate the heart rate
a) Number of beats per minute
b) Changes with emotional and physical stressors

Question 23

Sinoatrial node (5)

Answer 23

1) Small mass of specialized cardiac tissue
a) Contains both cardiac and nervous tissue characteristics

2) Electrical impulse that controls cardiac cycle begins here

3) Found in the right atrium

4) Pacemaker of the heart

5) Spreads through atria, causing left and right atrial systole

Question 24

Three other components of electrical impulse system (after sinoatrial node) (3)

Answer 24

1) Atrioventricular node

2) Bundle of His

3) Purkinje fibers
a) Right and left ventricular contraction

Question 25

Visual of conduction system of heart

Answer 25

Question 26

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) (3)

Answer 26

1) Device used to measure electrical impulses in the heart

2) Corresponds to the mechanical events happening

3) Used to monitor and diagnose patient conditions

Question 27

P-wave (ECG) (2)

Answer 27

1) Atrial depolarization

2) Atrial systole

Question 28

QRS complex (ECG) (3)

Answer 28

1) Ventricular depolarization

2) Ventricular systole

3) Largest wave as the ventricles are the largest with the most mass

Question 29

T-wave (ECG) (2)

Answer 29

1) Ventricular repolarization
a) Returning to rest
b) Ventricular diastole

2) Atrial repolarization is hidden within the QRS complex