Cardiovascular System Basics

Cardiovascular System

• Consists of the heart and blood vessels.
• Two loops: pulmonary and systemic.
• Heart: muscular pump

Heart Anatomy

• Pericardium: outer layer
• Myocardium: middle layer, responsible for contraction.
• Endocardium: inner layer
• Atria: upper chambers
• Ventricles: lower chambers
• Valves: regulate blood flow
• Chordae tendineae: fibrous cords that prevent valve prolapse

Cardiac Cycle

• Rhythmic blood movement through the heart
• Two phases:
  • Diastole: relaxation and filling
  • Systole: contraction and ejection
• Heart sounds:
  • Result from valve closure
  • Described by pitch, intensity, duration, and timing
• Extra heart sounds are abnormal

Heart Contraction

• Caused by electrical currents in the conduction system

Cardiac Output

• The volume of blood pumped by the heart each minute
• Formula: Cardiac output = Stroke volume x Heart rate

Preload

• Amount of blood in the ventricles before contraction (diastole)

Afterload

• Pressure the heart must overcome to eject blood into the aorta

Electrocardiography (ECG)

• Measures electrical activity of the heart
• PQRST waves:
  • P: atrial depolarization
  • QRS: ventricular depolarization
  • T: ventricular repolarization

Neck Vessels

• Carotid artery: carries blood from the heart to the head and neck.
• Jugular veins: return blood from the head and neck to the heart.

Cardiovascular Development

• The cardiovascular system undergoes developmental changes throughout life

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• High cholesterol levels
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Subjective Data

• Chest pain
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Orthopnea (difficulty breathing when lying down)
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (sudden awakening with shortness of breath)
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Edema
• Nocturia (frequent urination at night)
• Past history of heart disease
• Family history of heart disease

Objective Data

• Neck Vessels:
  • Inspection
  • Palpation
• Precordium (area over the heart):
  • Inspection
  • Palpation
  • Auscultation

Auscultation

• Identify specific anatomical areas:
  • Aortic area
  • Pulmonic area
  • Erb's point
  • Tricuspid area
  • Mitral area

Test your knowledge on the cardiovascular system, including heart anatomy, the cardiac cycle, and cardiac output. This quiz covers essential concepts, such as the structures of the heart and their functions. Perfect for students wanting to enhance their understanding of human physiology.