Terminology of the Cardiovascular System II

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to the cardiovascular system discussed in the lecture.

What is the process by which the heart beats?

The heart beats through a self-regulating electrophysical process.

What are the four chambers of the heart?

The four chambers are right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), and left ventricle (LV).

What causes muscle contraction in the heart?

Action potentials lead to rapid electrical changes that cause muscle contraction.

What is depolarization in cardiac cells?

Depolarization is the process where negatively charged cells become positively charged, causing them to contract.

What is the sinoatrial node (S-A node)?

The S-A node is a specialized cardiac cell cluster that acts as the pacemaker of the heart.

What role does Bachmann’s Bundle play in the heart?

Bachmann's Bundle connects the atria and allows signals to be sent from the right atrium to the left atrium.

How does the signal travel from the S-A node to the ventricles?

The signal travels from the S-A node to the atrioventricular node (A-V node), then down the bundle of His, and out through Purkinje fibers.

What does an electrocardiogram (ECG) measure?

An ECG follows electrical signals as they travel through the myocardium.

What does the P wave represent in an ECG?

The P wave indicates the contraction of the atria.

What are some cardiovascular abnormalities?

Some abnormalities include arteritis, phlebitis, venostasis, insufficiency/murmur, stenosis, ventricular fibrillation, and atrial fibrillation.

What does the abbreviation 'bpm' stand for?

Bpm stands for beats per minute.

Why do animals rarely have heart attacks?

Animals rarely have heart attacks typically due to myocardial infarcts, not atherosclerosis.

What happens during myocardial ischemia?

Ischemia occurs when a coronary artery is plugged, leading to reduced blood flow and potentially cell death.

What is the significance of blood pressure?

Blood pressure measures the force exerted by blood on the walls of arteries, indicating potential heart issues.