Cardiovascular System Lecture Review

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the anatomy, physiology, and common pathologies of the human cardiovascular system based on lecture notes.

What are the two primary components that make up the cardiovascular system?

The heart and blood vessels.

Approximately how many miles of blood vessels are contained in the human body?

$60,000$ miles.

What is the function of arteries in the circulatory system?

They are vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

What is the function of veins in the circulatory system?

They are vessels that bring blood back to the heart.

Which layer of the blood vessel wall is lined with endothelial cells and comes into direct contact with blood?

Tunica intima.

Which layer of the blood vessel wall contains elastic fibers and is responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodilation?

Tunica media.

What is the outermost layer of a blood vessel that provides structure?

Tunica adventitia.

Which artery is the exception to the rule that the arterial system transports oxygenated blood to tissues?

Pulmonary artery.

What are arterioles?

The smallest form of arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the capillaries in organs and tissues.

Which component of the venous system receives deoxygenated blood directly from capillaries?

Venules.

What are the names of the two largest veins that return deoxygenated blood to the heart?

Superior vena cavae and inferior vena cavae.

What is the pericardium?

A fibroserous sac surrounding the heart and the roots of the great vessels.

What is the narrow space between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium called?

Pericardial cavity.

What is cardiac tamponade?

A condition where rapid accumulation of excess fluid within the pericardial sac compresses the heart, resulting in biventricular failure.

What is Kussmaul's sign?

A condition in patients with constrictive pericarditis where the jugular venous pulse rises on inspiration, rather than dropping.

Where is the heart situated within the thoracic cavity?

In the middle mediastinum between the two lungs.

Which heart chamber forms the anterior (sternocostal) surface of the heart?

Right ventricle.

Which heart chamber forms the posterior surface (base) of the heart?

Left atrium.

What are the three layers of the heart wall?

Pericardium (outer), Myocardium (middle), and Endocardium (inner).

What is the name of the septum located between the left and right atrium?

Inter-atria septum.

Name the two semilunar valves of the heart.

Systemic Valve (Aortic Valve) and Pulmonary Valve.

What is another name for the Mitral valve?

Left atrioventricular valve or Bicuspid Valve.

In heart valve disease, what is the difference between incompetence and stenosis?

Incompetence (insufficiency) results from poorly functioning valves, while stenosis is a narrowing of the orifice caused by the valve's inability to open fully.

What is the natural pacemaker of the heart, and where is it located?

Sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium.

At what rate does the Sinoatrial (SA) node typically generate electrical impulses?

$60-100\,\text{beats per minute (bpm)}$.

Which coronary artery supplies the right atrium, right ventricle, and the sinoatrial node?

Right Coronary Artery (RCA).

Which branch of the Left Coronary Artery (LCA) supplies the anterior wall of the left ventricle and the apex of the heart?

Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery.

What occurs during a myocardial infarction?

Occlusion of a major coronary artery leads to inadequate oxygenation of the myocardium and cell death.

What is the function of the coronary sinus?

It is a large vein that collects blood from the myocardium and empties it into the right atrium.

What are the three main branches of the Aortic Arch (Arcus aortae)?

Brachiocephalic trunk, Left common carotid artery, and Left subclavian artery.

Which veins unite to form the Superior Vena Cava (SVC)?

The right and left brachiocephalic veins.

Describe the path of deoxygenated blood through the right side of the heart.

Blood enters the right atrium via the vena cavae, flows through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, and is pumped through the pulmonary valve into the main pulmonary artery.

How does oxygenated blood return to the heart from the lungs?

Via four pulmonary veins into the left atrium.

What is Dyspnea?

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

What is Atherosclerosis?

Plaque buildup in arteries, leading to CAD, heart attacks, and strokes.