Cardiovascular Physiology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards related to heart physiology.

Systolic Pressure

Pressure generated during ventricular contraction.

Diastolic Pressure

Pressure in the arteries during cardiac relaxation.

Hypertension

Blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg.

Primary (essential) hypertension

Hypertension with an unknown cause (multifactorial).

Secondary hypertension

Hypertension resulting from another disease process.

Pulse Pressure

Difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Average pressure in the arteries.

Cardiac Output

Amount of blood ejected by each ventricle of the heart each minute.

Cardiac Reserve

Difference between resting cardiac output and maximum cardiac output.

End-Diastolic Volume (EDV)

Volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole.

Afterload

Pressure the heart must pump against to eject blood.

Contractility

Strength of the ventricular contraction.

Frank-Starling Mechanism

Greater EDV results in a more forceful contraction.

Preload

Amount of stretch of the myocardium.

Contractility

Responsiveness of cardiac muscle to contract (calcium).

Afterload

Blood pressure pushing back off the semilunar valves.

Ejection Fraction

End diastolic volume / End systolic volume

Skeletal Muscle Pump

Rhythmic skeletal muscle contractions force blood in the extremities toward the heart

Respiratory Pump

Changes in thoracic pressure pull blood toward the heart

Venoconstriction

Exercise causes sympathetic stimulation of smooth muscles in veins, they then constrict!

Sinoatrial node (SA node)

Pacemaker, initiates depolarization.

Atrioventricular node (AV node)

Passes depolarization to ventricles.

Bundle Branches

Connect atria to left and right ventricle.

Purkinje Fibers

Spread wave of depolarization throughout ventricles.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Records the heart’s electrical activity.

P wave

Atrial depolarization.

QRS complex

Ventricular depolarization and atrial repolarization.

T wave

Ventricular repolarization.

ECG abnormalities

ST-segment depression can indicate myocardial ischemia.

Arrhythmia

An abnormal heart rhythm. Any disruption to the electrical conduits in the heart can cause this!