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CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM – COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE Medical Assisting | Ms. Gatto

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CARDIOVASCULAR REVIEW QUESTIONS ==================================================
List 3 functions of the cardiovascular system. • Transport oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and organs • Remove waste products (such as carbon dioxide) from the body • Circulate blood throughout the body
Define veins, capillaries and arteries. • Arteries: Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart (usually oxygen-rich, except the pulmonary artery) • Veins: Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart (usually oxygen-poor, except the pulmonary veins) • Capillaries: Tiny, thin-walled vessels that connect arteries and veins; the site of exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and wastes between blood and tissues
What does the mitral valve do? The mitral valve (also called the bicuspid valve) is located between the left atrium and left ventricle. It opens to allow oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle and closes to prevent backflow of blood into the left atrium when the ventricle contracts.
What type of blood is carried by the pulmonary artery / aorta? • Pulmonary artery: Carries oxygen-poor (deoxygenated) blood from the right ventricle to the lungs • Aorta: Carries oxygen-rich (oxygenated) blood from the left ventricle out to the body
Define myocardium, Pericardium and Epicardium. • Myocardium: The thick middle muscular layer of the heart wall responsible for the heart’s pumping action • Pericardium: The double-layered sac that surrounds and protects the heart, anchors it in place, and reduces friction • Epicardium: The outer layer of the heart wall; also the visceral (inner) layer of the serous pericardium
What is Cardiomegaly? Cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart. It is not a disease itself but a sign that can result from conditions such as high blood pressure, heart valve disease, or cardiomyopathy.
What type of blood vessels carry blood away from the heart? Arteries (and arterioles)
What prevents the backflow of blood into the right ventricle? The pulmonary valve (pulmonic valve) prevents blood from flowing back from the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle. (Note: The tricuspid valve prevents backflow from the right ventricle into the right atrium.)
What separates the right and left sides of the heart? The septum (interatrial septum between the atria and interventricular septum between the ventricles)
List and define the chambers of the heart. • Right Atrium: Receives oxygen-poor blood from the body via the superior and inferior vena cava • Right Ventricle: Pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery • Left Atrium: Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins • Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygen-rich blood out to the body through the aorta (strongest chamber)

================================================== 2. HEART DISEASE – DETECTION, TREATMENT & PREVENTION

What is heart disease? Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. The most common form is coronary artery disease, in which the blood vessels that supply the heart become narrowed or blocked, often leading to heart attack, heart failure, or other complications.
How does plaque occur? Plaque forms through a process called atherosclerosis. Fatty substances (cholesterol and other lipids), cellular waste, calcium, and fibrin build up on the inner walls of arteries. Over time this hardens and narrows the arteries, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of clot formation.
List some risk factors. • High blood pressure (hypertension) • Smoking / tobacco use • Obesity / overweight • High cholesterol (especially LDL) • Physical inactivity / sedentary lifestyle • Diabetes • Unhealthy diet • Family history / genetics • Age and sex (risk increases with age; men at higher risk earlier)
Define 4 types of cardiovascular tests used to detect heart disease. • Electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG): Records the electrical activity of the heart to detect rhythm problems, previous heart attacks, or other abnormalities • Echocardiogram: Uses ultrasound (sound waves) to create moving images of the heart; shows structure, function, and blood flow • Stress Test: Patient exercises (or receives medication) while heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG are monitored to evaluate how the heart responds to physical stress • Cardiac Catheterization / Angiography: A thin tube is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart; contrast dye and X-rays visualize blockages in the coronary arteries
Define 4 types of surgeries used to treat heart disease. • Angioplasty (with or without stent): A balloon is inflated inside a blocked artery to open it; often a stent is placed to keep the vessel open • Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG / Bypass surgery): Healthy blood vessels from elsewhere in the body are used to create new pathways around blocked coronary arteries • Pacemaker implantation: A small device is placed under the skin to help regulate the heart’s electrical rhythm when it is too slow or irregular • Valve repair or replacement: Diseased heart valves are repaired or replaced with mechanical or biological valves
Explain how you would help your patients try to prevent heart disease. As a Medical Assistant I would educate and encourage patients to: • Never start smoking or quit if they currently smoke (offer resources) • Eat a heart-healthy diet (low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and added sugars; rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins) • Exercise regularly (at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week) • Maintain a healthy weight • Control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar • Take medications as prescribed • Manage stress and get adequate sleep • Attend regular check-ups and screenings

================================================== 3. CARDIOVASCULAR WORD PARTS

Aort/o — Aorta (the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body)
Arteri/o — Artery
Ather/o — Fatty plaque / yellowish, fatty substance
Angi/o — Blood vessel (or vessel in general)
Brady- — Slow
-emia — Blood condition / condition of the blood
Cardi/o — Heart
-crasia — A mixture or blending (often used for abnormal mixture of blood components)
Erythr/o — Red
Ven/o — Vein
Leuk/o — White
Phleb/o — Vein
Tachy- — Fast / rapid
Thromb/o — Blood clot / clot
Hem/o — Blood

Quick Examples: • Bradycardia = slow heart rate • Tachycardia = fast heart rate • Atherosclerosis = hardening of the arteries due to fatty plaque • Angioplasty = surgical repair of a blood vessel • Phlebotomy = incision/puncture of a vein (drawing blood) • Leukemia = cancer involving white blood cells • Thrombosis = formation of a blood clot

================================================== 4. INTERPRETING THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG/EKG)

Important Note: It is not the responsibility of the Medical Assistant to give the patient their ECG results. Only a qualified provider interprets and communicates the findings.

P WAVE This impulse measures the contraction (depolarization) of the atria, or upper chambers of the heart, at the beginning of the cardiac cycle. It is the beginning of the process of pumping blood.

P-R INTERVAL This part of the waveform shows the electrical activity of the atria as the impulse travels from the atria through the AV node to the ventricles. It represents the time from the start of atrial depolarization to the start of ventricular depolarization.

R WAVE This measures the electrical activity through the left ventricle of the heart (the main upward spike of the QRS complex).

QRS COMPLEX The QRS segment of the waveform records the electrical activity (depolarization) of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) as they pump blood out to the body (and lungs).

S-T SEGMENT This represents the time period between the end of the contraction (depolarization) of the ventricles and the beginning of the recovery period (T wave), when the ventricles are resting (early repolarization phase).

T WAVE This wave shows the resting/recovery period (repolarization) of the ventricles before the next cardiac cycle begins.

Quick ECG Sequence Summary:

P wave → Atria contract (depolarize)
PR interval → Impulse travels to ventricles
QRS complex → Ventricles contract (depolarize)
ST segment → Ventricles begin to relax
T wave → Ventricles fully recover (repolarize)

================================================== 5. QUICK REFERENCE – KEY FACTS TO MEMORIZE

Blood Flow Through the Heart (in order):

Superior/Inferior Vena Cava → Right Atrium
Through Tricuspid Valve → Right Ventricle
Through Pulmonary Valve → Pulmonary Artery → Lungs
Pulmonary Veins → Left Atrium
Through Mitral (Bicuspid) Valve → Left Ventricle
Through Aortic Valve → Aorta → Body

Four Heart Valves: • Tricuspid – between right atrium & right ventricle • Pulmonary (Pulmonic) – between right ventricle & pulmonary artery • Mitral (Bicuspid) – between left atrium & left ventricle • Aortic – between left ventricle & aorta

Layers of the Heart Wall (outer → inner): • Epicardium (outer) • Myocardium (middle muscle layer) • Endocardium (inner lining)

Common Prefixes & Suffixes: • Brady- = slow

Tachy- = fast • -emia = blood condition -itis = inflammation • -megaly = enlargement -sclerosis = hardening • -plasty = surgical repair -ectomy = surgical removal