Cardiology Quiz: Understanding Heart Functions

A localized, abnormal widening of an artery caused by a weakened vessel wall.

Sustained high blood pressure within the arterial system.

Hypertension with no identifiable cause.

Hypertension caused by another medical condition.

Risk factors for hypertension that can't be changed.

Risk factors for hypertension that can be changed.

A tumor that secretes hormones causing high blood pressure, sweating, and other symptoms.

Narrowing of the aorta, causing higher blood pressure in the upper body.

The amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute. Calculated as Stroke Volume (SV) times Heart Rate (HR).

The difference between the maximum cardiac output and resting cardiac output. Represents how much the heart can increase its pumping capacity.

The pressure inside the ventricle at the end of diastole when it's filled with blood.

The resistance the heart has to overcome to pump blood into the aorta.

A reduction in blood flow to a level that doesn't meet the tissue's oxygen needs.

An area of dead tissue (necrosis) caused by a lack of blood supply.

A buildup of fatty plaques in the inner layer of arteries, narrowing the blood flow passage.

Inflammation of the blood vessel wall leading to tissue damage and death.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. During these episodes, blood pressure surges and remains elevated even during the day.

Primary hypertension is typically asymptomatic, meaning it usually doesn't cause noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are often related to long-term damage to organs like the kidneys, heart, eyes, and blood vessels.

Increased blood pressure puts stress on the heart, forcing it to work harder. Over time, this causes the left ventricle to thicken (hypertrophy) to compensate, increasing the risk of heart disease, arrhythmias, and heart failure.

High blood pressure damages the kidneys by restricting blood flow to the filtering units (glomeruli), leading to scarring (glomerulosclerosis) and damage to the tubules (tubulointerstitial fibrosis).

A condition where the heart's left ventricle struggles to pump blood effectively, leading to a build-up of pressure in the lungs.

A condition where the heart's right ventricle struggles to pump blood effectively leading to a build-up of pressure in the body.

High blood pressure narrows the arteries in the brain, reducing blood flow and impairing the brain's ability to regulate its own blood supply. This can lead to brain damage, including white matter demyelination.

High blood pressure causes the blood vessels in the eyes to narrow, leading to decreased blood flow and potential vision problems. This can result in damage to the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.

Long-term hypertension can cause damage to blood vessels, making them more prone to hardening and narrowing (atherosclerosis). This increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.

The amount of blood the left ventricle can hold before it contracts.

Oral contraceptive agents, commonly known as birth control pills, can increase blood pressure by influencing hormone levels in the body and affecting blood vessel function.

The body's natural response to low cardiac output, involving increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and sodium and water retention.

The pressure inside the ventricle at the end of its filling stage.

A condition causing increased resistance to filling and increased filling pressures.

Swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles due to fluid retention.

The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It has four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body.

The cardiac cycle refers to the continuous rhythmic pumping action of the heart. It involves two main phases: systole and diastole. Systole represents the contraction of the ventricles, expelling blood into the arteries. Diastole represents the relaxation of the ventricles, allowing them to refill with blood.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a chronic health condition characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure in the arteries. It can be primary, arising from unknown causes, or secondary, resulting from other medical conditions.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs. This leads to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body. CHF can be caused by a variety of factors, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and heart valve problems.

Left-sided heart failure involves the left ventricle being unable to pump effectively, leading to a buildup of blood in the lungs. This causes symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue.

Right-sided heart failure occurs when the right ventricle cannot pump blood effectively to the lungs. This can lead to fluid buildup in the legs, abdomen, and liver.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a complex hormonal system that regulates blood volume and pressure. It plays a crucial role in heart failure as a compensatory mechanism. This system helps maintain blood volume and pressure in response to decreased blood flow or pressure to the kidneys.

The diagnosis of heart failure involves assessing the patient's symptoms, reviewing medical history, and conducting physical examinations. This can be combined with echocardiograms to monitor heart function and assess damage. Treatment typically involves medication, lifestyle modifications, and potentially surgery.

The sympathetic nervous system helps maintain blood flow to organs by directly increasing heart rate and contractility, constricting blood vessels, and promoting sodium and water retention in the kidneys.

An increase in sympathetic activity, specifically through stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors, causes a faster heart rate (tachycardia), narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated in heart failure due to reduced blood flow and filtration in the kidneys, leading to fluid retention.

Low cardiac output in heart failure reduces blood flow to the kidneys, leading to a decrease in filtration rate and increased sodium and water retention.

Angiotensin II causes the adrenal glands to release aldosterone, a hormone that increases sodium and water retention by the kidneys.

Angiotensin II also stimulates the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), further promoting water retention and blood volume.

Angiotensin II and aldosterone trigger inflammation, attract immune cells, and promote scar tissue formation in the heart, ultimately contributing to heart remodeling and dysfunction.

Cardiac muscle cells adapt to pressure overload (PO) and volume overload (VO) by undergoing hypertrophy, which can be symmetrical, concentric, or eccentric, depending on the specific type of overload.