Chapter 15 Lecture Notes – Cardiovascular System

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to the cardiovascular system as outlined in the lecture notes.

Cardiovascular System

System consisting of the heart, arteries, capillaries, veins, and blood, responsible for circulating substances throughout the body.

waste removal c02 & urea

Pulmonary Circuit

Part of the cardiovascular system that sends oxygen-poor blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

Systemic Circuit

Part of the cardiovascular system that delivers oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to all body cells and removes wastes.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Also known as a heart attack; occurs when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery, killing tissue in that part of the heart.

Angina Pectoris

Painful condition caused by a decrease in blood flow to myocardial cells due to partial blockage of coronary arteries.

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscles contract.

Diastole

The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscles relax.

SA Node (Sinoatrial Node)

The normal pacemaker of the heart, initiating rhythmic contractions and setting a standard heart rate.

AV Node (Atrioventricular Node)

Conducts impulses from the atria to the ventricles, creating a delay for proper contraction timing.

Cardiovascular Disease

A class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels, including hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Hypertension

Chronically elevated blood pressure, defined as systolic pressure greater than 130 mm Hg or diastolic pressure greater than 80 mm Hg.

Atherosclerosis

Condition characterized by the buildup of fatty materials, particularly cholesterol, within and on the inner lining of arteries.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The volume of blood pumped from the ventricle with each heartbeat.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The amount of blood that leaves a ventricle each minute, calculated as heart rate times stroke volume.

Capillary Exchange

The process by which gases, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged between blood in capillaries and surrounding tissues.

Baroreceptors

Specialized pressure receptors found in the aortic arch and carotid sinuses that help regulate blood pressure.

Coronary Sinus

An enlarged vein that collects blood from the cardiac veins and drains it into the right atrium.

heart anatomy

pumps aprox. 7,000 liters of blood daily

3-4 billion times in human life cycle

pericardium

The double-walled sac that encloses the heart, providing protection and allowing movement during contractions.

endocardium

a thin layer lining the heart chambers that ensures smooth blood flow within the heart.

myocardium

the thickest layer composed of cardiac muscle fibers that contract and relax to pump blood throughout the body.

epicardium (visceral pericardium)

the outermost layer that serves as a protective layer of the heart

pericardial cavity

the space between the pericardium layers that contains pericardial fluid, cushioning the heart.

parietal pericardium & fibrous pericardium

further protect the heart anchoring it to surrounding structures

chambers

right atrium

right ventricle

left atrium

left ventricle

right atrium

receives deoxygenated blood from the body via thesuperior and inferior vena cavae.

right ventricle

pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery for oxygenation.

left atrium

receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins.

left ventricle

pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta, supplying all bodily tissues with rich oxygen. can handle higher pressure

valves

the heart contains 4 valves tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic that ensure unidirectional blood flow through the heart chambers.

internal septum

separates the right and left atria and prevents the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

chordae tendineae

tendon like structure connected to heart valves that prevent backflow during ventricular contraction.

papillary muscles

connect to chordae tendineae and help anchor heart valves, ensuring proper closure during heartbeats.

coronary arteries

supply blood to the heart muscle, delivering oxygen and nutrients.

right coronary artery

a coronary artery that supplies blood to the right side of the heart, including the right atrium and right ventricle.

left coronary artery

a coronary artery that supplies blood to the left side of the heart, including the left atrium and left ventricle.

cardiac veins

collect deoxygenated blood from the heart and drain it into the coronary sinus. which empties into the right atrium of the heart.

cardiac conduction system

the network of specialized cardiac muscle fibers that coordinate the heart's rhythmic contractions, including the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, and Purkinje fibers.

systole

refers to the contraction phase where the heart chambers contract to eject blood.

diastole

the relaxation phase where chambers fill with blood

electrical conduction pathway

the route through which electrical impulses travel from the sinoatrial node to stimulate heart muscle contraction.

p wave

indicates atrial depolarization before atrial contraction

QRS complex

reflects ventricular depolarization and contraction, usually following the P wave in an ECG.

t wave

represents ventricular repolarization following ventricular contraction. aidinf in assessing the hearts electrical activity

parasympathetic signals

via the vagus nerve, these signals slow the heart rate during restful states

sympathetic signals

utilize norepinephrine to increase heart rate and contractility, preparing the body for a 'fight or flight' response.

blood vessels

the cardiovascular system's network that transports blood throughout the body, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.

arteries

thick walled vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart

arterioles

smaller branches that lead to capillaries, they regukate blood flow through vasodilation and vasoconstriction.

capillaries

microscopic vessels where exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues.

venules

collect blood from capillaries and transport it to larger veins.

viens

return deoxygenated blood to the heart from the body. thinner walls often equipped with valves to prevent backflow.

diffusion

the primary method of transport for gases and nutrients

filtration

driven by hydrostatic pressure, pushes fluids and solutes out of capillaries into the surrounding tissues.

osmosis

the movement of water through capillary walls, influenced by concentration gradients and plasma proteins

transcytosis

involves the transport of large substances across endothelial cells using vesicles

hydrostatic pressure

blood pressure within capillaries affecting the filtration rate

colloid osmotic pressure

created by plasma protiens, attracts water back into the bloodstream to maintain fluid balance in the capillaries.

blood pressure

the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.

normal BP reading

120/80

influenced by

cardiac output

peripheral resistance

blood volume

atherosclerosis

a disease characterized by the buildup of plaques in arterial walls, leading to reduced blood flow and increased risk of cardiovascular events.

hypertension

a chronic condition marked by elevated blood pressure leading to potential health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

varicose veins

engorged twisted veins often appear in the legs that occur when valves within the veins fail, causing blood to pool. They can lead to pain, swelling, and other complications.

aneurysm

a localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall, which can lead to rupture and severe complications. life threatening internal bleeding