Clinical Sciences Chapter 6: Cardiology and Cardiovascular System

cardiology

the study of the cardiovascular system

cardiovascular system

contains the heart and blood vessels connected in a continuous, circular pathway that carries blood to and from all parts of the body

heart

located in the thoracic cavity behind the sternum and between the lungs, roughly the size of a fist. contains 4 valves and 4 chambers

4 chambers of the heart

left and right atria (upper chambers), left and right ventricles (lower chambers)

4 valves of the heart

tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, aortic valve

tricuspid valve

located between the right atrium and the right ventricle

pulmonary valve

located between the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries

mitral valve

located between the left atrium and the left ventricle

aortic valve

located between the left ventricle and the aorta

apex of the heart

the pointed, bottom-most tip of the left ventricle of the heart

pericardium

double-layered serous membrane that surrounds the heart and forms the U-shaped pericardial sac.

parietal pericardium

the outer-most layer of the pericardium

epicardium

outer-most layer of the heart, inner-most layer of the pericardium

pericardial fluid

fills the space between the parietal pericardium and the epicardium

myocardium

located between the epicardium and endocardium, the muscular layer of the heart

my/o-

muscle

endocardium

the inner-most layer of the heart that lines the heart's chambers and valves

septum

the central wall that divides the heart into the right and left sides

mediastinum

irregularly shaped central space between the lungs that holds the heart, esophagus, trachea, and thymus

blood vessels

vascular channels in which blood circulates throughout the body. all blood vessels have a central opening (lumen) and are lined with a smooth layer or endothelium (intima).

three kinds of blood vessels: arteries, capillaries, veins

arteries

carries oxygenated blood away from the heart towards muscles and organs

capillaries

connect arteries and veins

veins

carries deoxygenated blood toward the heart

venules

transition point for blood from the capillaries to the veins. multiple venules converge to form veins

systole

phase of the heartbeat in which the heart contracts

diastole

phase of the heartbeat in which the heart rests between each contraction, allowing the heart muscle to refill with blood

superior vena cava

carries deoxygenated blood from the head, neck, chest, and arms to the right atrium

inferior vena cava

carries deoxygenated blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and legs to the right atrium

jugular veins

carry deoxygenated blood from the head and neck to the superior vena cava

pulmonary veins

carry OXYGENATED blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart

portal veins

carry deoxygenated blood from the intestines and liver to the inferior vena cava

fibular veins

carry deoxygenated blood from the lateral sides of the lower legs to the femoral veins

saphenous veins

carry deoxygenated blood from the lower legs to the femoral veins

aorta

largest artery in the human body, carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body

carotid arteries

carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the face, head, and brain. they run up the right and left side of the neck

coronary arteries

carry oxygenated blood from the aorta back into the heart muscle

pulmonary arteries

carry DEOXYGENATED blood (unlike the other arteries) from the right side of the heart to the lungs

cardi/o-

heart

arrhythmia

abnormal heart rate or rhythm caused by a problem with the heart's electrical system

rrhythm/o-

rhythm

fibrillation

arrhythmia in which there is a very fast, uncoordinated quivering of the myocardium

fibrill/o-

muscle fiber; nerve fiber

premature contraction

arrhythmia that involves a very fast but regular rhythm of the atria or ventricles

bradycardia

arrhythmia in which the heart beats too slowly

tachycardia

arrhythmia in which there is a fast but regular rhythm

asystole

complete absence of a heartbeat; also known as cardiac arrest

-systole

process of contracting

palpation

an uncomfortable sensation like a "thump" inside the chest due to premature contraction of the heart

congestive heart failure (CHF)

inability of the heart to pump sufficient amounts of blood, caused by coronary artery disease or hypertension

aneurysm

an area of dilation and weakness in the wall of an artery

hypertension (HTN)

elevated blood pressure of > 130/80 mm Hg

hyper-

above; more than normal

tens/o-

pressure

myocardial infarction (MI)

death of tissue in the myocardium due to severe lack of oxygen, also known as a heart attack

contract/o-

pull together

cardiac catheterization

medical procedure to study anatomy and pressure in the heart

electrocardiography (ECG EKG)

procedure that records the electrical activity of the heart

auscultation

use of a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of the heart

auscult/o-

listening

vital signs

temperature, pulse, respirations (TPR), and blood pressure (BP)

blood pressure (BP)

one of four vital signs; measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer

sphygm/o-

pulse

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

an emergency lifesaving procedure to circulate the blood after a person's heart has stopped beating

cardiopulmonary bipass

technique used during open heart surgery in which the patient's blood is temporarily rerouted to a heart-lung machine

pacemaker insertion

procedure in which an automated device is implanted to control heart rate and rhythm in a patient with arrhythmia