Cardiovascular System

These flashcards cover key concepts from the cardiovascular system, including anatomy, physiological processes, and pathophysiology.

What is the double-layered sac that encloses the heart called?

Pericardium

what does the ascending aorta supply?

the right and left coronary arteries of the heart

aortic arch supplies what

brachiocephalic truck

left common carotid artery

left subclavian artery

blood component %

Which layer of the heart is responsible for its pumping action?

Myocardium

Blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle through which valve?

Mitral (bicuspid) valve

Which vessels deliver oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart?

Pulmonary veins

What is the name of the valve located between the right atrium and right ventricle?

Tricuspid valve

Which structure is responsible for initiating the heartbeat?

Sinoatrial node

What is the phase called when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood?

Systole

Which structure prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle?

Aortic valve

What primarily produces the 'lub-dub' sound of the heart?

Opening and closing of the atrioventricular and semilunar valves

Which factor does NOT influence blood pressure?

ABO blood type

An acidic blood pH would be a value that is:

Less than 7.35

Which blood type is considered the universal recipient?

AB

The blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body are called:

Arteries

In the cardiac conduction system, after the SA node fires, the impulse travels to the:

Atrioventricular node

During which phase does the heart relax and fill with blood?

Diastole

What is the largest artery in the body?

Aorta

Which valve prevents backflow of blood from the pulmonary trunk into the right ventricle?

Pulmonary valve

The 'pacemaker' cells of the heart are located in the:

Sinoatrial node

AV NODE

wait signal to allow the atriums to empty into the ventricles

delays for 0.1 seconds

Blood pressure is usually expressed as two numbers. The higher number represents:

Systolic pressure

An individual with Type O blood should NOT receive:

AB blood

Which component of the vascular system is responsible for nutrient and gas exchange?

Capillaries

The term 'cardiac output' refers to:

The amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute

A decrease in blood pH can be caused by:

Accumulation of metabolic acids

Which of the following is NOT a function of the cardiovascular system?

Production of hormones

An increase in which factor would lead to a decrease in blood pressure?

Vessel diameter

In the cardiac cycle, which complex seen in an ECG represents Ventricular depolarization?

QRS complex

P wave

atrial contraction

T wave

ventricular relaxation

purkinje fibers

specialized cardiac muscle fibers

located in ventricles

• Rapidly spread the electrical signal through the ventricles

• Ensure ventricles contract together and efficiently

fetal circulation

Because the lungs don’t work before birth, blood has to bypass them.

1⃣

Foramen ovale

• What it is: Opening between right atrium → left atrium

• Purpose: Bypasses the lungs

• Closes after birth → becomes fossa ovalis

2⃣

Ductus arteriosus

⭐ (MOST TESTED)

• What it is: Vessel connecting pulmonary artery → aorta

• Purpose: Sends blood away from lungs

• Closes after birth → becomes ligamentum arteriosum

3⃣

Ductus venosus

• What it is: Vessel connecting umbilical vein → inferior vena cava

• Purpose: Bypasses the liver

• Closes after birth

Buffy coat of blood

made of WBCs and platelets

lymph system does what

removes excess interstitial fluid and filters it out

open system

has an immune role

failure of lymph system

EDEMA ( fluid build up in tissues )

cardiac output

heart rate x stroke volume

beats/min x amount of blood pumped per min

higher resistance in BV caused what

Vasoconstriction which narrows blood vessels making blood pressure higher

pulse pressure

systolic-diastolic

assesses atrial stiffness

stroke volume changes

viscosity

blood thickness

MAIN REASONS BLOOD GETS THICKER (TEAS LEVEL)

1⃣

More Red Blood Cells

• Higher hematocrit

• More cells in the same amount of plasma → thicker blood

📌 Example:

• Polycythemia (too many RBCs)

• Living at high altitude (body makes more RBCs)

2⃣

Dehydration

⭐ VERY HIGH-YIELD

• Less plasma (fluid)

• Same number of cells

• Blood becomes more concentrated → thicker

📌 This is the most common TEAS answer.

3⃣

High Plasma Proteins

• More proteins (like fibrinogen)

• Increases resistance to flow

4⃣

Clot Formation (Localized)

• Blood thickens at the clot site

• Increases risk of blockage

LUB

AV closure

DUB

semilunar valve closure- start of diastole

flow of heart conduction

atrial pressure is high blood is filled in both

blood moves from high pressure to low causing the AV valves to open

blood starts slowly filling in ventricles

SA node fires to start atrial contraction

AV node says wait!= 0.1 delay

ventricles start contracting

LUB (AV valve shuts) now ventricle pressure is high

blood naturally ejects to arteries from semilunar valves

semilunar valve shuts so ventricles can’t fill back up making DUB sound

= one full heart beat

hypertension

elevated BP

increases workload of heart damaged BV bc blood tries pushing harder

since higher resistance = more blood volume and less vessel elasticity

hypotension

What it is:

• Blood pressure too low (<90/60)

Effects:

• Dizziness, fainting

• Inadequate tissue perfusion

TEAS likes:

• Blood loss, dehydration → hypotension

atherosclerosis

• Buildup of fatty plaques in medium & large arteries

Why it matters:

• Narrows arteries

• Reduces blood flow

• Raises blood pressure

TEAS phrase to recognize:

“Plaque buildup in arterial walls”

ischemia

What it is:

• Reduced blood flow to tissues

Cause:

• Blocked or narrowed arteries

TEAS link:

• Can lead to chest pain or organ damage

myocardial infarction

• Death of heart muscle tissue

Cause:

• Blocked coronary artery

TEAS wording:

“Interruption of blood supply to myocardium”

arrhythmia

irregular heart beat

electrical issue

cardiac muscle cells

striated due to sarcomere (basic contractile unit of the muscle) besides smooth

• Branched
  → Cells connect to each other in a network

• Single nucleus per cell (usually 1)

• Short, rectangular cells

intercalted discs

Intercalated discs

• Specialized connections between cardiac muscle cells

• Allow:
  

  • Electrical communication

  • Synchronized contraction

This is why the heart contracts as a unit

bundle of HIS

also known as AV bundle

carries the delay signal from AV node to ventricles

have left and rich bundle branches that travel down the interventricular septum carrying signal to apex of heart (base) so ventricular contraction pushes blood toward arteries.

The blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart are:

Veins

What is the name of the inferior tip of the heart?

Apex

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure is known as:

Pulse pressure

Which component of the cardiac conduction system rapidly transmits impulses to the ventricular muscles?

Purkinje fibers

Which factor can lead to an increase in blood pressure?

Increased sodium intake

Which chamber of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body?

Right atrium

Which blood type lacks antigens?

O

A decrease in which factor can lead to an increase in blood pressure?

Blood volume

In a normal cardiac cycle, when are the ventricles filled with blood?

Ventricular diastole