Test 4 🩷 Flashcards
Cardiac
How does cardiac muscle contract?
As a unit–similar to smooth muscle
How are cardiac cells connected to eachother?
Intercalated discs
What provides a pathway for neighboring cells to communicate?
Gap junctions
Where are gap junctions located in each cardiac cell?
the border of each cell–curvy/ jagged (intercalated discs)
How do intercalated discs allow for more gap junctions?
The cells fit together with the next cell creating more surface area for gap junctions
What is the pattern of cardiac muscle?
Striated
What does the cardiac muscle pattern correspond with?
alignment of actin and myosin
What type of sarcomeres are similar to cardiac sarcomeres?
Heart sarcomeres look similar to skeletal sarcomeres
How many nuclei per cardiac muscle cell?
one nucleus per cardiac cell
What is the function of stem cells?
slow process to generate new cardiac cells and patch areas where cells have died
Why wouldnt you be able to generate cardiac cells to replace tissue after MI?
Stem cells wouldnt be able to produce new cells fast enough
injury overwhelms the replacement system
What are fibroblasts?
Cells in the heart that deposit scar tissue
When do fibroblasts lay scar tissue in the heart?
usually at a controlled rate
can be uncontrolled in setting of disease processes (CHF)
What is an example of a disease where fibroblasts are overactive?
CHF–excessive scar tissue
What drug can be used to slow down fibroblast activity and prevent unnecessary scar tissure deposition?
ACE inhibitors
How do ACE inhibitors prevent unnecessary scare tissue deposition?
ACE inhibitors block RAAS-prevent growth factor from angiotensin II and prevent excess scar tissue in the heart
Which group should not be prescribed ACE inhibitors?
Pregnant women–angiotensin II is important for development of fetus and ACE inhibitors would block that growth/development
How does scar tissue mess with transduction system in the heart?
Scar tissue doesnt contract or conduct action potentials
What is the arrangement of cardiac ventricular muscle?
Syncytial connections
How many layers does ventricular muscle have?
2
How are the cells oriented in ventricular muscle layers?
The layers have cells oriented in different directions (perpendicular)
How do the ventricle contract?
They squeeze and rotate in opposite directions
What analogy was used in lecture to compare to ventricular contraction?
Wringing water out of a wet towel
What is meant by “top part of heart”?
Atria