Physiology Flashcards
(165 cards)
When is the LV at its fullest?
At the end of diastole
When is the LV at its emptiest?
At the aortic valve closure
During the ventricular diastole, the proper filling of the ventricles depends on 3 conditions:
- The filling pressure of blood returning to the heart and atria (to push blood into the heart)
- The ability of the Atrio-ventricular valves to open fully (i.e. no stenosis)
- The ability of the ventricular wall to expand passively with little resistance (compliance)
What is stroke volume?
The amount of blood ejected with each beat =
End diastolic volume – End systolic volume
What is the ejection fraction?
Stroke Volume / End-diastolic volume
Normal range = 55-70%
What is pulse pressure?
Systolic BP – Diastolic BP
Ex. 120/80mmHg; Pulse pressure = 120-80 = 40mmHg
What is Mean arterial pressure (MAP)?
Diastolic BP + 1/3 Pulse pressure
Ex. B/P = 125/80mmHg;
Pulse pressure = 45mmHg;
MAP = 80mmHg + 45/3 = 95mmHg
What is the Windkessel effect?
The aorta distends during systole as more blood enters the aorta than leaves it. During diastole, the arterial pressure is maintained by the elastic recoil of walls of the aorta and other large arteries. The aorta kid of acts life a pump.
What are the 3 compartments of the total body water?
- INTRACELLULAR COMPARTMENT (2/3 of TBW) = 30 Liters
- EXTRACELLULAR FLUID (1/3 of TBW) = 15 Liters
A) INTERSTITIAL COMPARTMENT (12 L)
B) CIRCULATING PLASMA COMPARTMENT (3L)
What are the 2 types of circulation in the body and their advantages?
- Pulmonary and systemic circulation in series (all the blood that passes in one passes in another)
- Organs and in parallel
Advantages
- Systemic organs receive arterial blood of identical composition
- Flow through any of the systemic organs can be controlled independently
Equation of Flow (Q)?
FLOW (Q) = Pressure difference (Δ P)
Resistance (R)
Poisseuille’s Equation ?
Factors determine the resistance: R4 = Inside radius of tube / L = Tube length / η = Fluid viscosity.
Since the ΔP is nearly identical across all systemic organs, cardiac output is distributed among the various organs primarily on the basis of individual resistances to flow.

Describe how are the valves when during systole and diastole
Systole
- When the ventricular pressure exceeds the pressure in the pulmonary artery (right pump) or aorta (left pump), blood is forced out of the chamber through the outlet valve
- The inlet (AV valve) is closed
Diastole
- When the ventricular muscles cells relax, the pressure in the ventricle falls below than in the atrium, the AV valve opens, and the ventricle fills
- The outlet valve is closed

What is cardiac output and how do you calculate it?
Cardiac output: The amount of blood pumped out by the heart per minute
- HR = Heart rate = number of heartbeats per minute
- SV = Stroke volume = Volume of blood ejected per heart beat = EDV – ESV (end of diastolic – systolic)
CO = HR x SV
Describe the electrical conduction system of the heart
- Sinoatrial (SA) node: The heart’s pacemaker; Initiates the action potential that is conducted through the heart; Controls heart rate
- Atrioventricular (AV) node: Contains s l o w l y conducting cells that function to create a slight delay between atrial and ventricular contraction
- Purkinje fibers: specialized for rapid conduction to ensure that all ventricular cells contract at the same instant
+ Participation of the autonomic nervous system via ß2 (SE) and vagus nerve (PSE)
What are the 5 requirements for effective ventricular pumping action of the heart
- Contraction of individual cardiac muscle cells must occur at regular intervals and be synchronized (not arrhythmic)
- The valves must open fully (not stenotic)
- The valves must not leak (not insufficient or regurgitant)
- The muscle contractions must be forceful (not failing)
- The ventricles must fill adequately during diastole
What do all vessels have in common?
Vessels have different characteristics but all types are lined by endothelial cells.
As the heart, blood vessels are regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, EXECT 2 types. Which one?
- arteries
- capillaries
Describe blood
Complex fluid that serves as medium for transporting substances between the tissues of the body
- Blood cells (40% Red blood cells, white cells, platelets, all formed in bone marrow)
- Plasma (60%, liquid component of blood, electrolytes, proteins, serum, transport)
- Hematocrit = Cell volume / Total blood volume
Name 1 to 6 in this Wiggers Diagram

- Isovolumic contraction
- Isovolumic relaxation
- A-V valve opens
- A-V valve closes
- Aortic valve closes
- Aortic valve opens

In a Wiggers Diagram, what are the 2 phases were the volume does not change?
- Isovolumetric contraction phase = Period between mitral valve closure and aortic valve opening
- Isovolumetric relaxation phase is the interval between aortic valve closure and mitral valve opening
What is the difference between the righ and the left ventricle in termes of pressure, volume and resistance?
- Same stroke Volume
- Synchronized
- All less pressure but same shape of curve in Wiggers
States the origin of the heart sounds
- S1 = Closure of the atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid)
- S2 = Closure of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic)
- S3 = Extra sound heard in early diastole when there is exaggerated early diastolic filling (can sometimes be normal)
- S4 = Extra sound heard when there is atrial contraction into a stiff, non-compliant ventricle (usually abnormal)
Bruh, what is the pressure-volume loop?
The pressure-volume loop is a graphical representation of the changes in intraventricular pressure which occur during the cardiac cycle as the ventricle fills and empties
- On the x axis is the intraventricular volume
- On the y axis is the intraventricular pressure




















