Overview of Cardiovascular System

Overview of Cardiovascular System

• Comprises the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste products.

Heart Anatomy

• Chambers:
  • 4 chambers: Right atrium, Right ventricle, Left atrium, Left ventricle.
• Valves:
  • Atrioventricular valves: Tricuspid (right side), Mitral (left side).
  • Semilunar valves: Pulmonary (right side), Aortic (left side).

Blood Vessels

• Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except pulmonary arteries).
• Veins: Return deoxygenated blood to the heart (except pulmonary veins).
• Capillaries: Microscopic vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs.

Blood Circulation

• Systemic Circulation: Blood flows from the heart to the body and back.
• Pulmonary Circulation: Blood flows from the heart to the lungs and back.

Cardiac Cycle

• Systole: Heart muscles contract, pumping blood out.
• Diastole: Heart muscles relax, allowing chambers to fill with blood.

Electrical Conduction System

• Sinoatrial (SA) Node: Natural pacemaker; initiates heartbeat.
• Atrioventricular (AV) Node: Relays electrical impulses from atria to ventricles.
• Bundle of His and Purkinje Fibers: Distributes impulses throughout the ventricles.

Common Cardiovascular Diseases

• Hypertension: High blood pressure; risk factor for heart disease.
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowing of coronary arteries; leads to angina or heart attack.
• Heart Failure: Heart's inability to pump enough blood effectively.
• Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats; can lead to complications.
• Stroke: Blood supply to the brain is interrupted.

Risk Factors

• Non-modifiable: Age, genetics, gender.
• Modifiable: Diet, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, stress.

Prevention and Management

• Lifestyle Changes: Healthy diet, regular exercise, weight management.
• Medications: Antihypertensives, statins, anticoagulants.
• Monitoring: Regular check-ups, blood pressure, cholesterol levels.

Diagnostic Tests

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records electrical activity of the heart.
• Echocardiogram: Ultrasound to view heart structure/function.
• Stress Testing: Assesses heart function under physical stress.
• Angiography: Imaging to see blood vessels and diagnose blockages.

Treatment Options

• Medications: To manage symptoms and risk factors.
• Surgery: Bypass surgery, valve repair/replacement, angioplasty.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Essential for long-term management.

Overview of Cardiovascular System

• Heart, blood vessels, and blood work together to transport essential substances like nutrients and oxygen, as well as to remove waste products.

Heart Anatomy

• Comprises four chambers: Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.
• Atrioventricular valves include:
  • Tricuspid valve on the right side.
  • Mitral valve on the left side.
• Semilunar valves include:
  • Pulmonary valve on the right side.
  • Aortic valve on the left side.

Blood Vessels

• Arteries are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart, with the exception of pulmonary arteries.
• Veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart, excluding pulmonary veins which carry oxygenated blood.
• Capillaries enable gas and nutrient exchange at a microscopic level.

Blood Circulation

• Systemic circulation allows blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body and back.
• Pulmonary circulation transports blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and back.

Cardiac Cycle

• Systole refers to the contraction phase of the heart, where blood is pumped out.
• Diastole is the relaxation phase, which allows the heart chambers to fill with blood.

Electrical Conduction System

• Sinoatrial (SA) Node serves as the heart's natural pacemaker, starting the heartbeat.
• Atrioventricular (AV) Node transmits electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles.
• Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers ensure the effective distribution of impulses throughout the ventricles.

Common Cardiovascular Diseases

• Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease through elevated blood pressure.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) involves the narrowing of coronary arteries, potentially causing angina or heart attacks.
• Heart failure manifests when the heart cannot pump sufficient blood effectively.
• Arrhythmias result in irregular heartbeats, which can lead to various complications.
• A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted.

Risk Factors

• Non-modifiable factors include age, genetics, and gender.
• Modifiable factors encompass diet, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, and stress.

Prevention and Management

• Lifestyle interventions such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight management play a critical role.
• Medications like antihypertensives, statins, and anticoagulants help manage conditions.
• Continuous monitoring through regular check-ups helps track blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Diagnostic Tests

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) evaluates the heart's electrical activity.
• Echocardiogram uses ultrasound to visualize heart structure and function.
• Stress testing measures heart performance during physical exertion.
• Angiography provides imaging to diagnose blood vessel blockages.

Treatment Options

• Medications are used to alleviate symptoms and reduce risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.
• Surgical interventions can include bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement, and angioplasty.
• Lifestyle modifications are crucial for long-term cardiovascular health management.

Test your knowledge on the cardiovascular system, including the anatomy of the heart, functions of blood vessels, and their roles in transporting essential substances throughout the body. Understand the structure and significance of various heart chambers and valves.