Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular System

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on the cardiovascular system and heart pathologies.

What is the leading cause of death in the United States?

Heart disease.

How many people died from heart disease in the United States in 2021?

About 695,000 people.

What type of system is the circulatory system?

A closed-loop system.

What happens to deoxygenated blood in the heart?

It enters the right atrium, travels to the lungs to become oxygenated, and then moves to the left atrium to be pumped out to the body.

What are the four chambers of the heart?

Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.

What is the role of the heart valves?

They control the movement of blood through the heart in one direction.

What do systole and diastole represent in the cardiac cycle?

Systole represents contraction of heart chambers, while diastole represents relaxation when chambers fill with blood.

How is cardiac output calculated?

Cardiac output = Heart rate x Stroke volume.

What does the Frank-Starling mechanism describe?

Maximum cardiac output is achieved when the muscle fibers stretch just the right amount during filling.

What are potential causes of valvular stenosis?

Congenital heart defects or age-related damage like calcium buildup.

What are common treatments for aortic stenosis?

Valvuloplasty and valve replacement.

What happens during mitral valve prolapse syndrome?

One or both cusps of the mitral valve billow upward into the left atrium during systole.

What is tricuspid regurgitation often caused by?

Secondary effects such as left ventricular dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension.

What drugs are used to manage regurgitation symptoms?

Diuretics and some anti-arrhythmics.