Cardiac Aging and Pathophysiology Quiz

The heart muscle (myocardium) weakens and the heart chambers cannot empty properly, resulting in reduced pumping efficiency.

The heart muscle cannot relax sufficiently to allow for proper filling of the ventricles, affecting the heart's ability to fill with blood during diastole.

Age-related changes in the heart include a decrease in the size of the left ventricle and a decrease in the number of heart muscle cells.

Hardening of the heart due to the deposition of amyloid, a protein that stiffens tissues.

Valvular heart disease, including conditions that prevent valve opening or cause increased pressure in the heart chambers.

The thickening and hardening of arteries due to the buildup of plaque, contributing to heart disease.

Disruptions in the electrical signals that control the heart's rhythm, leading to irregular heartbeats.

The ability of the heart to increase its contractile force in response to increased stretch. This essentially means the heart can pump harder when it's filled with more blood.

The heart's ability to increase its strength and size in response to increased workload. This is how the heart adapts when facing challenges like high blood pressure or valve problems.

An increase in the size of the heart's chambers, often due to increased filling of the heart with blood. This happens in response to situations like leaky valves or fluid overload.

The process where new sarcomeres (the building blocks of muscle fibers) are added in parallel to the existing sarcomeres. This makes the heart muscle thicker, but not necessarily bigger.

The process where new sarcomeres are added in series within existing sarcomeres. This makes the heart muscle longer, leading to chamber enlargement (dilation).

A complex response involving the nervous system and hormones to regulate blood pressure and heart function. This includes the release of norepinephrine from nerves and the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

A condition where the heart is not able to pump blood effectively, often resulting in fluid build-up in the lungs and other organs. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including heart attacks, hypertension, and valve problems.

The increase in pressure inside the heart, often due to narrowed arteries or stiff valves. This can put a strain on the heart and lead to hypertrophy.

An increase in the volume of blood flowing through the heart, often due to leaky valves or excessive fluid in the body. This can lead to dilation of the heart chambers.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a complex process involving changes in the size and structure of heart muscle cells (myocytes).

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated in response to decreased blood pressure or volume. RAAS increases blood pressure by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and retaining water and salt.

A hormone released by the heart, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) acts as a counterbalance to RAAS, promoting diuresis (increased urine production) and vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), helping to lower blood pressure

Increased resistance within the blood vessels, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.

An adaptation to increased workload where the heart muscle walls thicken, enabling the heart to generate more force.

A complex form of hypertrophy that includes both an increase in the heart's muscle mass and an expansion of the heart's chambers.

Conditions leading to increased workload on the heart, such as high blood pressure, heart valve problems, and coronary artery disease, frequently lead to heart hypertrophy.

The heart expands in size, leading to larger chambers capable of holding more blood, often a compensatory response to increased workload.

A condition where the heart muscle cannot get enough oxygen, causing chest pain. This can be caused by narrowed coronary arteries or a blockage.

Stable angina occurs when the demand for oxygen in the heart exceeds the supply due to narrowed coronary arteries. It typically doesn't involve a sudden plaque blockage.

Unstable angina occurs when a plaque ruptures in a coronary artery, causing a partial or temporary blockage. This leads to unpredictable chest pain which can occur even at rest.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked, causing the heart muscle to die due to lack of oxygen. This usually happens due to a ruptured plaque and a blood clot.

Sudden cardiac death is a rapid and unexpected death caused by a fatal heart rhythm disturbance, usually due to a severe heart attack.

Atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries, is the main cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) which can lead to heart attacks and other problems.

Although heart attacks can occur at any age, they become more common with increasing age and the presence of risk factors like smoking and high cholesterol.

Men are more prone to heart attacks before middle age, but the risk for women increases after menopause due to lower estrogen levels.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death for older women, as they are typically the most vulnerable to heart disease.

Myocardial ischemia can be caused by a variety of factors, including reduced blood flow, plaque disruption, blood clots, and vasospasms. These factors can all contribute to a heart attack.

The heart muscle's dependence on oxygen and nutrients makes it extremely vulnerable to changes in blood supply. Within a minute of severe ischemia, the heart loses its ability to contract effectively.

When an artery is completely blocked by a blood clot (thrombosis), the heart muscle downstream of the blockage suffers from a lack of oxygen and nutrients, known as myocardial ischemia.

The severity and duration of blood flow deprivation (ischemia) directly impacts the heart's function. Longer or more severe ischemia can lead to more extensive damage to the heart muscle.

The buildup of lactic acid, a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, can be harmful to the heart muscle. When oxygen is limited, the heart cells switch to inefficient energy production, leading to lactic acid accumulation.

Early treatment like thrombolysis (clot-busting medication) or angioplasty (opening blocked arteries) can significantly improve the outcome of a heart attack by restoring blood flow to the affected area.