anatomy cardiosca

Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

These cells carry oxygen throughout the body.

White Blood Cells (WBCs)

They are part of the immune system and help fight infection.

Platelets

These help with clotting and preventing excessive bleeding.

Plasma

The liquid part of blood that makes up about 55% of total blood volume.

Albumins

Maintain osmotic pressure and help transport substances.

Globulins

Function in immune response and transport.

Fibrinogen

Plays a key role in blood clotting.

Hematocrit

The percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells.

Structure of RBCs

RBCs have a concave disc shape to maximize surface area for gas exchange and allow flexibility.

Properties of RBCs

They contain hemoglobin which binds to oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Life Cycle of RBCs

RBCs are produced in the red bone marrow and live for about 120 days before being broken down in the liver and spleen.

Death of RBCs

RBCs die either from rupture or by being phagocytized by macrophages.

Iron

Iron is essential for hemoglobin's ability to bind oxygen.

Antigens

Molecules on RBCs that determine blood type (e.g., A, B, Rh).

Antibodies

Proteins in plasma that react against foreign antigens.

Agglutination

The clumping of RBCs when antibodies bind to antigens, which can occur during an incompatible blood transfusion.

Apex of the Heart

The tip of the heart, directed downward and toward the left side of the body.

Function of the Apex

The apex helps direct the flow of blood and acts as the point of the heart's contraction.

Left Ventricle

Located on the left side of the heart, it is the lower left chamber.

Function of the Left Ventricle

Pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta.

Right Ventricle

Located on the right side of the heart, it is the lower right chamber.

Function of the Right Ventricle

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

Left Atrium

Located on the upper left side of the heart.

Function of the Left Atrium

Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins and sends it to the left ventricle.

Right Atrium

Located on the upper right side of the heart.

Function of the Right Atrium

Receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior vena cava and sends it to the right ventricle.

Chordae Tendineae

Tendon-like structures connected to the AV valves (tricuspid and bicuspid) and the papillary muscles.

Right AV Valve (Tricuspid Valve)

Located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Left AV Valve (Bicuspid or Mitral Valve)

Located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Vena Cava

The superior vena cava brings blood from the upper body, and the inferior vena cava brings blood from the lower body to the right atrium.

Interventricular Septum

The wall that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart.

Pulmonary Vein

Located in the left atrium, it carries blood from the lungs to the heart.

Aorta

The large artery that arises from the left ventricle.

Aortic Valve

Located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Pulmonary Valve

Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Pulmonary Artery

Carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

Blockage of a coronary artery leading to tissue death in the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen.

Stroke

Interruption of blood flow to the brain, either through a clot (ischemic stroke) or a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke).

Bradycardia

An abnormally slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute).

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute).

Anemia

A condition where there are insufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen effectively.

Aneurysm

A bulging or ballooning of a weakened area in the wall of an artery.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Abnormally high pressure in the arteries.

Cardiac Cycle

The sequence of events in the heart from one heartbeat to the next.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

It acts as the natural pacemaker, initiating electrical impulses that trigger heartbeats.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

It delays the electrical impulse before passing it to the ventricles, ensuring the atria fully contract before the ventricles contract.

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle where the heart muscle contracts to pump blood out of the chambers.

Diastole

The phase when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.

Cardiac Output

The total blood volume pumped by the heart per minute.

Heart Rate (HR)

The number of heartbeats per minute.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle in each contraction.

Cardiac Output Formula

Cardiac Output (CO) = Heart Rate (HR) × Stroke Volume (SV).

Infarct

Tissue death due to the lack of blood supply, often caused by a blockage in the blood vessels.

Myocardial Infarction

A heart attack that occurs when a coronary artery is blocked, leading to oxygen deprivation and death of heart muscle tissue.

Arrhythmias

Abnormal heart rhythms where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly.

Bradycardia

A type of arrhythmia characterized by a slow heart rate.

Tachycardia

A type of arrhythmia characterized by a fast heart rate.

Arteries

Thick, muscular walls with a small lumen that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

Arterioles

Smaller branches of arteries with thinner walls that regulate blood flow into capillaries.

Capillaries

Very thin walls that allow for the exchange of gases, nutrients, and wastes between blood and tissues.

Venules

Small veins that connect capillaries to larger veins, collecting deoxygenated blood from capillaries.

Veins

Thin walls with large lumens and valves to prevent backflow; carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart (except pulmonary veins, which carry oxygenated blood).

Vena Cava

Large veins that return deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart; largest veins in the body (Superior and Inferior vena cava).

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure and decreasing blood flow.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow.

Oxygenated Blood Flow

Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Left AV valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body.

Deoxygenated Blood Flow

Superior/Inferior vena cava → Right atrium → Right AV valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → Lungs.

Blood Pressure

The force exerted by blood against the walls of blood vessels, influencing the movement of blood.

Resistance

The opposition to blood flow, influenced by factors like vessel diameter and blood viscosity.

Systolic Pressure

The pressure when the heart contracts (during ventricular systole).

Diastolic Pressure

The pressure when the heart relaxes (during ventricular diastole).

Capillary Pressure

Lower than in arteries; includes capillary hydrostatic pressure (forces fluid out) and blood osmotic pressure (pulls fluid back in).

Muscular Compression

Contraction of muscles pushes blood up through veins.

Respiratory Pump

Breathing movements help pull blood into the heart.

Valves in Veins

Prevent blood from flowing backward.

Hemorrhage Short-term Solutions

Vasoconstriction, mobilize venous reserve, and increased heart rate to compensate for loss of blood.

Hemorrhage Long-term Solutions

Fluid replacement and erythropoiesis (EPO) to restore blood volume and replace lost blood.

Trace Blood Flow

Heart → Arteries → Arterioles → Capillaries → Venules → Veins → Heart.

Fetal Circulatory System

Bypasses the lungs; blood flows through special structures: foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus.

Foramen Ovale

A hole between the right and left atria, allowing blood to bypass the lungs and flow directly to the left atrium.

Ductus Arteriosus

A vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the lungs.