Cardiovascular Physiology Quiz

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

• Normal range is 70-105 mmHg
• Less than 60 mmHg indicates inadequate organ perfusion
• Calculation: MAP = (2 x Diastolic Blood Pressure) + Systolic Blood Pressure / 3

Cardiac Index (CI)

• Measurement assessing the adequacy of cardiac output relative to the patient's size
• Normal range is 2.5-4.0 L/min/m²
• Calculation: CI = Cardiac Output (QT) / Body Surface Area (BSA)
• Higher CI values are needed for larger patients

Cardiac Output (QT)

• Represents the volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle per minute
• Calculation: QT = Stroke Volume (SV) x Heart Rate (HR)
• Normal range: 4-8 L/min at rest

Sympathetic Nervous System

• Releases norepinephrine (NE)
• Increases heart rate and electrical impulses
• Affects all areas of the heart
• Converts glycogen to glucose
• Causes pupil dilation and fight-or-flight response

Parasympathetic Nervous System

• Releases acetylcholine (ACH)
• Reduces electrical impulses
• Decreases heart rate
• Affects the AV nodes
• Causes pupil constriction
• Associated with "rest-and-digest" functions (e.g., salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, bronchospasm, bradycardia)

Systolic vs. Diastolic

• Systole: top number of blood pressure (BP)
  • Normal range is 90-120 mmHg
  • Semilunar valves open, AV valves close
  • Ventricles contract
• Diastole: bottom number of blood pressure (BP)
  • Normal range is 60-90 mmHg
  • Semilunar valves close, AV valves open
  • Ventricles relax

Venous System

• Crucial for returning blood to the heart
• Acts as a reservoir for blood
• Approximately 60% of total blood volume is contained in venous system at any given time
• Venous return should equal cardiac output (QT)

Ejection Fraction (EF)

• The percentage of blood ejected from the ventricles with each heartbeat
• Normal range is 65-70%
• Below 50% indicates reduced cardiac function and can limit exercise tolerance

Preload, Afterload, Contractility

• Preload: Ventricular stretch before contraction; affected by filling, compliance, venous return, and end-diastolic volume
• Afterload: Resistance to ventricular emptying; affected by peripheral vascular resistance (PVR), ventricular wall tension, and viscosity/volume of blood
• Contractility: Strength of ventricular contraction; influences cardiac output

Pulse Pressure

• Difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• Normal range is 30-40 mmHg
• Low pulse pressure may indicate low stroke volume

Central Venous Pressure (CVP)

• Measures pressure in the right atrium
• Normal range is 2-6 mmHg; higher CVP suggests fluid overload

Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)

• Method of mechanical ventilation that increases pressure in the lungs
• Augments preload and cardiac output; can also lead to hazards like increased intracranial pressure (ICP)

Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure (PAWP)

• Measurement of pressure in the Left atrium
• Normal range is 5–10 mm Hg

Test your knowledge on key concepts of cardiovascular physiology, including Mean Arterial Pressure, Cardiac Index, and Cardiac Output. This quiz covers normal ranges, calculations, and the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Perfect for students and healthcare professionals alike!