Patho Midterm One Flashcards
(128 cards)
Describe the pacemaker potential. How are pace maker potentials produced
Pace maker potential is the gradual DP from -60mV and Na slowly enters the cardiac cell
As the pacemaker potential reaches the threshold, it stimulates Ca channels to open which cause DP
Describe action potentials? How do they relate to heartbeats
Occurs when the threshhold is crossed (-40mV)
Causes depolarization (DP) - Ca channels open
Once at a max point, K channels open, causing repolarization until the potential drops to -60mV again
Pacemaker potential starts over again
Each DP causes one heart beat
What is tetanus? How is it prevented?
Tetanus is prolonged contraction due to repeated stimulation of the heart muscle
Prevented by the repolarization phase
What is the absolute refractory period?
A period of time which the heart muscle cannot be stimulated. Maintained by Calcuim channels being open. Allows the heart to fill properly
What is the cardiac conduction system pathway?
SA node in the R atrium stimulates the AV node
Activates the bundle of HIS in the septum
Traevls through the bundle branches in the lower septum into the Purkinje fibres in the ventricles
Describe what happens in the different stages of the ECG

P: SA node fires
Atrial Filling (DP)
. Atria Contract (atrial systole)
QRS: AV node fires. Ventricles begin to fill (DP). Atria relax (RP). Ventricles contract.
T: Ventricles relax (RP)
How do valves operate>
Flaps of connective tissue that close due to the changes of pressure in the atrium and ventricles. They are anchored by the chordae tendonae to prevent backflow
What are the two normal heart sounds. When do they occur
S1: lubb. Louder and longer. Due to closing of the AV valves because ventricles are contracting
S2: Dubb. Closure of the semilunar valves. Ventricles are relaxing causing the Vp < Ap
Where would you place your stethescope to listen to the different heart sounds?
Semilunar valves: 2-3ribs
AV: 5-6th ribes

What is Cardiac Output
CO = SV x HR
What is stroke volume?
SV = EDV - ESV
Governed by Contractilty , preload and afterload
To increase SV, you want to increase EDV and minimizeESV
What is preload? How does increasing preload affect SV?
Amound of tension in the ventricles due to the stretch of myocardium.
Increasing preload increases contraction strength
An increase in preload increases SV
What is Contractility? How does it affect SV?
The strength of the contraction of the heart
Increased contractiliy increased SV
What is afterload? How is it related to SV?
Afterload is the pressure that the heart has to exert to overcome the pressure in the arteries.
Affected by elasticity of vessel, periphery size
Inversly proportional to SV
What is ejection fraction? What does it tell us?
EJ = SV / EDV x100%
Fraction of blood that ejected from heart every heartbeat. Measure of how well the valves are working, not if the heart is getting an adequate amount of O2
What is blood pressure? What factors affect it?
BP = CO x TPR
CO:
Blood Volume: Increased Na/ H20 absorption, Renin, aldosterone
Cardiac: bpm, volume / beat
TPR:
Blood viscosity (RBCs, albumin)
Vessel radius( influenced by vasomotor tone)
What is vasomotor tone? How does it increase/ decrease?
If the sympathetic nervous system is activated, epinephrine is released, causing vasoconstriction.
Walls thicken increasing the PVR - strong tone
When SNS stimulation deceases, smooth muscle relaxes, dilating the vessel, decreasing PVR - weak tone
What is flow? How is it influenced?
Flow = volume/ time (mm3/s)
velocity x cross section
Influenced by viscosity of blood, vessel elasticity and vessel radium
How does local control influence BP?
- Lactic acid (wastes) cause vasodilation
- Vasoactive substances (histamines) cause vasodilation
- Angiogenesis can increase blood flow to the area
How does neural control affect blood pressure? What are the two pathways?
Changes in BP are noted in the baroreceptors (aortic arch, carotoid sinuses and aortic sinus)
ie. If the BP is increased, the arteries stretch and this is detected by the baroreceptors. They activate the cardio-inhibitory center and inhibit the vasomotor center
- Cardioinhibitory center- increases vagal tone which decreases HR
- Vasomotor - Reduces sympathetic tone which reduces vasomotor tone which causes vasodilation

What hormones control BP?
angiotensinogenigenfloats around in the blood stream. When BP drops,Reninis released from the kidneys which converts angiotensinogen toangiotensin I. As Angiotensin I passes through the lungs, ACE converts it toangiotensin II which is a powerful vasocontrictor.
Angiotensin II stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone which promotes Na and water retention in the kidnets
How is venous return promoted?
- Venous muscles contract, causing some pressure
- Gravity drains the head and neck
- Skeletal muscles in the limbs pump blood with movement
- Inhalation causes the thoracic cavity to expand, decreasing blood pressure and sucking blood up
- Cardiac suction of the atrial space
What factors promote capillary volume and flow
- Hydrostatic pressure mores fluid, nutrients and O2 from capillaries to the tissue bed
- As nutrients are removed, plasma proteins in capillary pull wastes and CO2 back into the capillary - Colloid osmotic pressure

What is the largest cause of cardiac disease?
Atherosclerosis


