3 layers of the heart
pericardium, myocardium, endocardium
Pericardium
connective tissue outer layer, protecting, anchoring, preventing from overfilling
Myocardium
cardiac muscle tissue
Endocardium
endothelial lining of internal chambers of the heart
4 cardiac chambers
left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle
Atrioventricular (AV) valves
prevent back flow into atria when ventricles contract
Chordae tendineae
anchor for valve flaps to papillary muscles
Semilunar (SL) valves
prevent back flow into ventricles when they relax
Blood flow process
superior/inferior vena cava > right atrium > tricuspid valve > right ventricle > pulmonary semilunar valve > pulmonary trunk > pulmonary arteries > lungs > pulmonary veins > left atrium > bicuspid valve > left ventricle > aortic semilunar valve > aorta > systemic circulation
Excitation process
SA node generates impulses > pause at AV node > AV connects atria to ventricles > Purkinje fibers depolarize cells & ventricles
Contraction differences
depolarization is quicker, repolarization is longer
P wave
depolarization of SA node in atria
QRS complex
depolarization of ventricles, repolarization of atria
T wave
repolarization of ventricles
Tachycardia
abnormally fast heart rate >100bpm
Bradycardia
heart rate slower than 60bpm
Epinephrine
increases heart rate & contractility
Thyroxine
increases heart rate & effects of epinephrine
Systole
contraction phase
Diastole
relaxation phase
End diastolic volume (EDV)
volume of blood in each ventricle at the end of ventricular diastole
End systolic volume (ESV)
volume of blood in each ventricle at the end of ventricular systole
Cardiac output
volume of blood pumped by each ventricle in one minute
Cardiac output formula
heart rate x stroke volume
Heart rate
beats per minute
Stroke volume
EDV - ESV
3 factors affecting stroke volume
preload, contractility, afterload
Preload
degree of stretch of cardiac muscle cells before they contract
Contractility
contractile strength at given muscle length
Afterload
pressure that must be overcome for the ventricles to eject blood