Disorders of Blood Flow and Blood Pressure Regulation

Blood Vessel Structure

Anatomy and function of blood vessels.

Systemic Arterial BP Regulation

Mechanisms controlling blood pressure in arteries.

Deoxygenated Blood

Blood lacking oxygen, collected by vena cavae.

Right Atrium

Chamber receiving deoxygenated blood from body.

Tricuspid Valve

Valve between right atrium and right ventricle.

Right Ventricle

Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

Pulmonary Artery

Carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

Oxygenated Blood

Blood enriched with oxygen from the lungs.

Left Atrium

Chamber receiving oxygenated blood from lungs.

Mitral Valve

Valve between left atrium and left ventricle.

Left Ventricle

Pumps oxygenated blood to the body.

Aorta

Main artery delivering blood to the body.

Systolic BP

Pressure during ventricular contraction.

Diastolic BP

Pressure during ventricular relaxation and filling.

Pulse Pressure

Difference between systolic and diastolic BP.

Normal Pulse Pressure

Approximately 40 mmHg in healthy adults.

Widened Pulse Pressure

Indicates risk for coronary artery disease.

Stroke Volume

Blood ejected from left ventricle per beat.

Mean Arterial BP (MAP)

Average arterial pressure during cardiac cycle.

MAP Normal Range

90-100 mmHg for healthy individuals.

MAP Calculation

MAP = (Cardiac output) x (Peripheral vascular resistance).

Cardiac Output

Total blood pumped by heart per minute.

Peripheral Vascular Resistance (PVR)

Resistance blood encounters in circulatory system.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Regulates vasoconstriction and vasodilation.

Blood Pressure (BP)

Product of cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance.

Cardiac Output

Volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute.

Peripheral Vascular Resistance (PVR)

Resistance in blood vessels affecting blood flow.

Systolic BP

Pressure in arteries during heartbeats.

Arterial Stiffness

Loss of elasticity in arteries, replaced by collagen.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Chronic disorder causing restricted blood flow in extremities.

Atherosclerotic Plaque

Buildup of fats and cholesterol in arteries.

Intermittent Claudication

Pain in legs during exercise due to insufficient blood flow.

Ischemia

Insufficient blood supply to tissues, causing damage.

Atrophic Changes

Thinning of skin and subcutaneous tissues due to ischemia.

Dependent Rubor

Deep red color in limbs when lowered, indicating blood flow.

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

Compares BP in ankle and arm to assess circulation.

Doppler Ultrasound

Non-invasive method to assess blood flow in vessels.

Anti-platelet Agents

Medications like aspirin that reduce blood clotting risk.

Statins

Medications that lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

Walking Therapy

Exercise to promote collateral circulation in PAD patients.

Aortic Aneurysm

Weakening of aorta's layers, potentially leading to rupture.

Pulsating Mass

Possible sign of an aortic aneurysm in patients.

Risk Factors for Aneurysms

Hypertension, elevated lipids, atherosclerosis, smoking history.

Rupture Prevention

Critical to avoid as aorta supplies blood to the body.

Clinical Manifestations of PAD

Symptoms include pale skin, weak pulses, and non-healing sores.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Rare condition presenting with abdominal/back pain and bulge.

Triple A

Abbreviation for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Internal Hemorrhage

Severe bleeding inside the body, life-threatening.

CT Scan

Imaging technique for diagnosing aortic conditions.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging for detailed internal views.

Pulsating Aneurysm

Aneurysm with rhythmic expansion, risk of rupture.

Surgical Repair

Emergency procedure for ruptured aneurysms.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Aneurysm located in the thoracic region of the aorta.

Substernal Pain

Pain below the sternum, indicative of thoracic issues.

Tracheal Compression

Pressure on trachea causing breathing difficulties.

Laryngeal Nerve Pressure

Causes hoarseness due to nerve compression.

Esophageal Compression

Difficulty swallowing due to pressure on the esophagus.

Superior Vena Cava Compression

Leads to neck vein distention and facial edema.

Blood Stasis

Reduced blood flow, increases risk of thrombus formation.

Aortic Dissection

Life-threatening tear in the aorta's vessel wall.

Excruciating Pain

Severe pain described as tearing or ripping sensation.

Syncopal Episodes

Fainting due to obstructed blood flow to the brain.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, a risk factor for dissections.

Systolic BP Control

Management of blood pressure to reduce dissection risk.

Prosthetic Graft

Artificial replacement for damaged aortic segments.

Mortality Rate

High risk of death associated with aortic dissection.

Degenerative Changes

Deterioration of aortic wall layers, increasing dissection risk.

Type A Aortic Dissection

More common, severe; involves ascending aorta.

Type B Aortic Dissection

Begins distal to subclavian artery; does not involve ascending aorta.

Hypertension

Sustained elevated blood pressure in arteries.

Primary Risk Factor

Leading cause of cardiovascular disease globally.

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

Age, ethnicity, family history, genetics.

Modifiable Risk Factors

Diet, tobacco, alcohol, obesity, fitness.

Target Organ Damage

Increased risk for heart disease and stroke.

Hypertensive Emergency

BP over 180/120 with acute organ damage.

Acute Organ Damage

Can lead to ischemic stroke or retinal hemorrhage.

Cardiomyopathy

Diverse diseases affecting heart muscle function.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Thickened heart wall; impairs relaxation and filling.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Both genetic and non-genetic origins; heart dilation.

Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy

No known cause for heart muscle disease.

Hypertensive Retinopathy

Eye damage due to uncontrolled hypertension.

Ventricular Hypertrophy

Thickening of heart muscle walls.

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Spectrum of conditions from unstable angina to heart attack.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Long-term damage from uncontrolled hypertension.

Ischemic Stroke

Blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain.

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Irregular heartbeats; can occur in HCM.

Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

Blockage of blood flow from left ventricle.

Pregnancy-Related Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy occurring during or after pregnancy.

Blood Pressure Control

Management strategy for reducing hypertension effects.

Ventricular Fibrillation

Most common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes.

Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

Genetic transmission pattern affecting sarcomere protein genes.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Characterized by asymmetric septal hypertrophy and obstruction.

Diastolic Dysfunction

Occurs due to stiff, non-compliant left ventricle.

Systolic Function

Normal function despite diastolic dysfunction presence.

Clinical Manifestations

Symptoms include dyspnea, chest pain, syncope, arrhythmias.

Beta-Blockers

Medications used to improve diastolic filling.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Medications that reduce left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT)

Path for blood exiting the left ventricle to aorta.

Myocardial Ischemia

Increased risk despite normal coronary arteries.

Disopyramide

Medication that increases risk of ventricular arrhythmias.