Cardiac Physiology and Perfusion

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to cardiac physiology and perfusion, providing definitions to facilitate understanding of the concepts.

Perfusion

The flow of blood through arteries and capillaries, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste.

Central perfusion

Refers to how well the heart pumps blood to the entire body.

Peripheral perfusion

Refers to how well blood flows to specific tissues, such as muscles and organs.

Cardiac cycle

The process involving the heart filling with blood (diastole) and then pumping it out (systole).

Preload

The amount of blood the heart fills with before it contracts.

Afterload

The resistance the heart must overcome to pump blood out.

Coronary arteries

The two main arteries supplying blood to the heart: right coronary artery (RCA) and left coronary artery (LCA).

SA node

The heart’s natural pacemaker that generates electrical signals to trigger heartbeats.

Intrinsic rate of the SA node

60-100 beats per minute (bpm).

Intrinsic rate of the AV node

40-60 beats per minute (bpm).

Intrinsic rate of the His-Purkinje system

20-40 beats per minute (bpm).

Baroreceptors

Sensors that detect changes in blood pressure and help regulate heart rate.

Chemoreceptors

Sensors that detect changes in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and pH levels in the blood.

Automaticity

The ability of cardiac cells to generate their own electrical impulses without external signals.

Excitability

The ability of cardiac cells to respond to an electrical stimulus.

Conductivity

The ability of cardiac cells to pass electrical impulses from one cell to another.

Contractility

The strength of the heart’s contraction during systole.