Cardiovascular System Overview

Questions and Answers

What is the function of the cardiovascular system?

Transportation

About how much does the heart weigh and what is its size?

Less than a pound and the size of a fist

What is the mediastinum?

Space between the lungs where the heart lies

What is the apex?

The pointed end of the heart that rests on the diaphragm, directed toward the left hip Signup and view all the answers

What is the base of the heart?

Top part of the heart that is broad Signup and view all the answers

What is the pericardium?

Double-walled sac that the heart sits in and contains serous fluid between the layers to prevent friction Signup and view all the answers

What is pericarditis?

Inflammation of the pericardium that results in a decrease in serous fluid Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 layers of the heart wall?

Epicardium, Myocardium, Endocardium Signup and view all the answers

What is the endocardium?

A thin sheet of endothelium that lines the heart chambers, continuous with the linings of blood vessels Signup and view all the answers

How many hollow chambers does the heart have?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What are atria?

Receiving chambers, blood comes into the heart Signup and view all the answers

Where are the atria located?

Superior Signup and view all the answers

What are ventricles?

Bottom chambers that send out blood Signup and view all the answers

What is the interatrial or intraventricular septum?

Divides the heart longitudinally Signup and view all the answers

Which side of the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the veins?

The right side Signup and view all the answers

What are the superior and inferior venae cavae?

The veins that bring in blood from the upper and lower parts of the body to the heart Signup and view all the answers

What do pulmonary arteries do?

Carry blood to the lungs where oxygen is picked up and carbon dioxide is unloaded Signup and view all the answers

What is the pulmonary vein?

Vein that brings blood back from the lungs to the heart Signup and view all the answers

What is the aorta?

The largest artery in the body that sends out oxygenated blood to the body Signup and view all the answers

How many valves are contained within the heart?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the valves?

Allows blood to flow in only one direction through the heart chambers Signup and view all the answers

Where are the Atrioventricular Valves (AV) located?

Between the atrial and ventricular chambers on each side Signup and view all the answers

What do the AV nodes do?

They prevent backflow into the atria when the ventricles contract Signup and view all the answers

What is the left AV node called?

Bicuspid or mitral valve Signup and view all the answers

How many flaps does the bicuspid valve have?

2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the right AV node called?

Tricuspid Valve Signup and view all the answers

How many flaps does the tricuspid valve have?

3 Signup and view all the answers

What are semilunar valves?

Set of valves that guards the bases of the two large arteries leaving the ventricular chambers Signup and view all the answers

How many leaflets do the semilunar valves have?

3 Signup and view all the answers

What is the left aortic valve?

Three half-moon shaped cusps (flaps) Signup and view all the answers

What is the right pulmonic valve?

Three half-moon shaped cusps (flaps) Signup and view all the answers

When do the AV valves open?

During heart relaxation Signup and view all the answers

When are the semilunar valves closed?

During heart relaxation Signup and view all the answers

What is valvular stenosis?

When the valve flaps become stiff Signup and view all the answers

What is endocarditis?

Bacterial infection of endocardium (Enlarges heart) Signup and view all the answers

What are coronary arteries?

Branch from the base of the aorta and encircle the heart Signup and view all the answers

What is angina pectoris?

When the myocardium is deprived of oxygen and results in crushing chest pain Signup and view all the answers

What is a myocardial infarction?

Heart attack, heart cells die because of prolonged oxygen deprivation Signup and view all the answers

Why are the walls of the atria thicker?

They carry high pressure Signup and view all the answers

How much blood does the heart pump in one day?

It pushes the body's supply of 6 quarts of blood through the blood vessels over 1000 times, meaning it actually pumps about 6000 quarts of blood in a single day Signup and view all the answers

What are the two systems that act to regulate heart activity?

Autonomic Nervous System, Intrinsic Factor Signup and view all the answers

What is the intrinsic conduction system?

Sets the basic rhythm Signup and view all the answers

On average, how many times does the heart beat per minute?

75 Signup and view all the answers

Where is the SA node located?

Right atrium Signup and view all the answers

Where is the AV node located?

At the junction of the atria and the ventricles Signup and view all the answers

What is the sinoatrial (SA) node also known as?

The pacemaker of the heart Signup and view all the answers

What do Purkinje fibers do?

Spread within the muscle of the ventricle walls Signup and view all the answers

Describe how the intrinsic conduction system works.

1st the SA node (a tiny cell mass) starts each heartbeat and sets the pace. 2nd From the SA node, the impulses spread through the atria to the AV node to cause a contraction. 3rd Once the AV node is finished contracting it is passed through the AV bundle, the bundle of His, the bundle branches, and the Purkinje fibers. Signup and view all the answers

What is heart block?

When the SA and AV nodes are not communicating and when there is damage to the SA node Signup and view all the answers

What is the result when damage is done to the SA node?

Slower heart rate Signup and view all the answers

What is ischemia?

Lack of blood supply to the heart muscle Signup and view all the answers

What is fibrillation?

A rapid uncoordinated shuddering of the heart muscle, a major cause of death in heart attacks Signup and view all the answers

What is tachycardia?

Rapid heart beat (over 100 beats per minute) Signup and view all the answers

What is bradycardia?

Slow heart beat (less than 60 beats per minute) Signup and view all the answers

What is systole?

When the ventricles contract Signup and view all the answers

What is diastole?

When the ventricles relax Signup and view all the answers

What are murmurs?

Abnormal or unusual heartbeats because blood is flowing backwards Signup and view all the answers

What is cardiac output (CO)?

The amount of blood pumped by each side of the heart (actually each ventricle) in one minute Signup and view all the answers

What is congestive heart failure?

A progressive condition that reflects weakening of the heart Signup and view all the answers

What is coronary atherosclerosis?

Clogging of the coronary vessels with fatty buildup Signup and view all the answers

What is pulmonary edema?

Blood vessels become swollen with blood, fluid leaks from the circulation into the lung tissue, if untreated a person suffocates Signup and view all the answers

What is dyspnea?

Shortness of breath Signup and view all the answers

What is the vascular system?

From heart to arteries, to arterioles, to capillary beds. These drain into venules, which go back to heart in veins, then through the venae cavae into heart. Signup and view all the answers

What are arteries?

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart Signup and view all the answers

What are arterioles?

The smallest arteries that connect with the capillaries Signup and view all the answers

What are capillary beds?

A network of capillaries Signup and view all the answers

What are venules?

Small veins Signup and view all the answers

What are veins?

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart Signup and view all the answers

How many coats or tunics are in the walls of blood vessels?

3 coats Signup and view all the answers

Why are the walls of arteries thicker than veins?

They are continuously changing pressure Signup and view all the answers

Are veins closer or farther apart from the heart?

Farther Signup and view all the answers

What do valves do?

Prevent backflow of blood (contained in veins) Signup and view all the answers

What are varicose veins?

The pooling of blood in the feet and legs and inefficient venous return resulting from inactivity or pressure on the veins Signup and view all the answers

What is thrombophlebitis?

Inflammation of a vein that results when a clot forms in a vessel with poor circulation Signup and view all the answers

What is a pulmonary embolism?

When a blood clot detaches and lodges in vessels of the lung Signup and view all the answers

What is the ascending aorta?

The ascending part of the aorta as it emerges from the left ventricle Signup and view all the answers

Name the branches of the ascending aorta.

Right and left coronary arteries Signup and view all the answers

What does the left internal carotid serve?

Serves the brain Signup and view all the answers

What does the left external carotid serve?

Serves the skin and muscles of the head and neck Signup and view all the answers

What is the celiac trunk?

The first branch of the abdominal aorta, it is a single vessel with 3 branches Signup and view all the answers

What does the left gastric artery supply?

Supplies the stomach Signup and view all the answers

What does the splenic artery supply?

Supplies the spleen Signup and view all the answers

What does the common hepatic artery supply?

Supplies the liver Signup and view all the answers

What do the left and right renal arteries serve?

Serves the kidneys Signup and view all the answers

What do gonadal arteries serve?

Serves the ovaries or testes Signup and view all the answers

What is the popliteal artery?

Artery at the knee Signup and view all the answers

What is the posterior tibial artery?

At the ankle bone Signup and view all the answers

What is the dorsalis pedis artery?

At the top of the foot Signup and view all the answers

What is the superior vena cava?

Where the veins draining from the head and arms empty into Signup and view all the answers

Which side does the venae cava enter?

On the right atrium Signup and view all the answers

What is the inferior vena cava?

Where veins draining the lower body empty into (below the diaphragm) Signup and view all the answers

What is the azygos vein?

Single vein that drains the thorax Signup and view all the answers

What are the great saphenous veins?

The longest veins in the body (used for open-heart surgery) Signup and view all the answers

What does the external jugular vein receive blood from?

Skin and muscles of the head Signup and view all the answers

What does the subclavian vein receive blood from?

Receives blood from the arm through the axillary vein Signup and view all the answers

What is the median cubital vein?

Site for blood removal for blood testing, anterior aspect of the elbow Signup and view all the answers

What does the basilar artery serve?

Serves the brain stem and the cerebellum as it travels upward Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for the cerebral arterial circle?

Circle of Willis Signup and view all the answers

What is the cerebral arterial circle / Circle of Willis?

Blood vessels that surround the base of the brain, protecting the brain and providing more than one route for blood to reach brain tissue Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cardiovascular System Overview

The cardiovascular system is primarily responsible for the transportation of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.
The heart weighs less than a pound and is approximately the size of a human fist.
Located in the mediastinum, the heart lies between the lungs.

Heart Anatomy

The apex of the heart is its pointed end, directed toward the left hip and resting on the diaphragm.
The base is the broad top portion of the heart.
The heart has three layers: epicardium (outer), myocardium (middle and muscular), and endocardium (inner lining).

Heart Chambers and Function

The heart contains four hollow chambers: two atria (upper) and two ventricles (lower).
Atria are receiving chambers for blood, positioned superiorly.
Ventricles are the sending chambers responsible for pumping blood out of the heart.

Blood Flow and Circulation

The right side of the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the body via the superior and inferior venae cavae.
Pulmonary arteries carry this blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
Oxygenated blood returns to the heart via pulmonary veins and is distributed to the body through the aorta.

Heart Valves

The heart contains four valves that ensure unidirectional blood flow:
- Atrioventricular valves (AV): prevent backflow into the atria when ventricles contract.
- Bicuspid (mitral) valve has two flaps; tricuspid valve has three flaps.
- Semilunar valves guard the bases of the large arteries exiting the ventricles.
Valves open during heart relaxation and close during contraction.

Heart Regulation and Conduction

Heart activity is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and intrinsic factors.
The intrinsic conduction system establishes the heartbeat rhythm, with the SA node acting as the pacemaker.
The heart beats on average 75 times per minute.

Heart Conditions and Terms

Common conditions include angina pectoris (chest pain due to oxygen deprivation) and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Valvular stenosis describes stiff valve flaps, and endocarditis is an infection of the heart lining.

Blood Vessels and Structure

Blood vessels include:
- Arteries: carry blood away from the heart.
- Arterioles: connect arteries to capillaries.
- Capillary beds: networks of microscopic vessels for gas exchange.
- Venules: small veins collecting blood from capillaries.
- Veins: return blood to the heart.
Arteries have thicker walls to withstand high pressure, while veins contain valves to prevent backflow.

Major Arteries and Veins

Major branches of the aorta include:
- Left and right coronary arteries (supply the heart).
- Celiac trunk (supplies organs in the abdomen).
- Renal arteries (serve the kidneys).
- Popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries (supply the lower limbs).
Major veins include the superior and inferior vena cavae, which return blood from the body to the right atrium.

Special Circumstances

Varicose veins occur from poor venous return causing pooling.
Thrombophlebitis is vein inflammation due to clots.
Pulmonary embolism happens when a clot travels to the lungs.

Protective Mechanisms

The Circle of Willis (Cerebral Arterial Circle) encircles the base of the brain, providing redundancy in blood supply.

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Description

Explore the essential components and functions of the cardiovascular system in this quiz. Covering heart anatomy, chambers, and blood circulation, this quiz will enhance your understanding of how blood is transported throughout the body. Test your knowledge and learn about the heart's structure and its vital role in maintaining health.