The Heart, Bio 201

To become cyanotic means to turn blue. What could cause a new born to turn blue?

lack of oxygen binding to hemoglobin of the red blood cells changing the cell color from reddish to bluish

not enough oxygen getting in to the bloodstream

respiratory problems preventing the lungs from filling with fresh air

freezing of the tissues so they are unable to profuse with blood

heart not pumping enough blood out to the skin

Starting in the right atrium of the heart, place in correct order the structures that blood would pass through on its way to become reoxygenated and then supply tissues of the body.

right ventricle → pulmonary trunk → lung capillaries → pulmonary veins → left atrium → left ventricle

Transposition of the great vessels (TGV) is rare but typically results in the pulmonary trunk and aorta developing in transposed positions. In other words, the aorta drains the right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk drains the left ventricle. If everything else is normal about the heart, what problem(s) would be associated with the transposition of the aorta and pulmonary trunk?

Oxygenated blood from the left ventricle would be sent back to the lungs instead of out to the other tissues of the body.

Deoxygenated blood would be sent back out to the tissues of the body without getting oxygen.

Isabella was horrified when her newborn son Matteo became cyanotic immediately after he was born. He was whisked away; when the doctor returned, he told Isabella and her husband that their son had a congenital heart defect called TGV or transposition of the great vessels.

Isabella asked the doctor how Matteo had managed to survive so far if blood was not properly circulating to his lungs. What structure was allowing some oxygenated blood access to the systemic circuit, thus keeping Matteo alive immediately after birth?

foramen ovale

What is the function of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles of the bicuspid and tricuspid valves?

preventing eversion of the valves into the atria

If "lub-dup" describes a heartbeat, the "dup" part of the sound is caused by

vibrations that result from the semilunar valves slamming shut.

Stenosis of the mitral valve may cause blood to back up into the

pulmonary circulation

Blood leaving the right ventricle exits through the__________ valve.

pulmonary

Which of these statements concerning cardiac muscle tissue is true?

Cardiac muscle tissue exhibits inherent rhythmicity, which is the basis of coordinated heartbeats.

When compared to skeletal muscle, what differences are observed in cardiac muscle?

The sarcoplasmic reticulum is less complex, cells are branched, and there is a greater abundance of mitochondria.

T/F: Parasympathetic fibers innervate the SA node, AV node, and cardiac musculature.

False, cardiac musculature is innervated by sympathetic fibers

Why is the only path of conduction for impulse transmission from the atria to the ventricles through the AV node and AV bundle?

The atria and ventricles are insulated from each other by the fibrous skeleton of the heart.

An atherosclerotic blockage in the circumflex artery would result in decreased (or lack of) blood flow to the __________.

left atrium and posterior part of the left ventricle

ventriculo-

means ventricle of the heart

atri-

means atrium

electro-

means electricity

cardi-

means heart or heart action

A test that records the electrical activity of the heart is a(n) ________.

electrocardiogram

________ controls blood flow into the ventricles.

atrioventricular valves

The structure dividing the two atria of the heart is called the _______.

interatrial septum

_______ is a faster than normal heart rate.

tachycardia

The accumulation of pericardial fluid due to inflammation, or the accumulation of blood in the pericardial cavity, can lead to

cardiac tamponade

Cardiac muscle cells are bound by connective tissue into long circular and spiral networks called

bundles

The epicardium is the same as the

visceral layer of the serous pericardium

Which vessels drain into the right atrium?

superior and inferior vena cava and the coronary sinus

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardial lining of the heart, the serous pericardium. One of the conditions associated with pericarditis is called cardiac tamponade. What is true of cardiac tamponade?

Cardiac tamponade is associated with increased fluid buildup in the pericardial cavity resulting from the inflammatory response.

Cardiac tamponade can be alleviated by inserting a needle into the pericardial cavity and withdrawing excess fluid.

Excess fluid in the pericardial cavity compresses the heart.

Defects of heart valves are common and result from a number of causes. What is true about valve disorders?

Mitral and aortic valves are most often involved in valve disorders because they are subjected to the greatest pressure associated with left ventricular contraction.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with thickening of the left ventricular myocardium. What would be the consequences of such a condition?

In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, exercising can lead to fainting, chest pain, or even sudden death.

Increased atrial pressure would result in elevated pulmonary pressure producing fluid in the lungs.

The lumen of the left ventricle would be reduced and blood pressure would build up in the left atrium.

What is heart block?

Disruption of the ability of the ventricles to receive pacing impulses from the atria.