Cardiovascular System: A Comprehensive Guide PDF

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Lester S. Manzanares, PTRP, RN, MAN  CARDIOVASCULAR Means pertaining to the heart and blood vessels Cardi/o – heart Vascul/o – blood vessels These structures work together to provide efficient pumping system to supply all body tissues with oxy...

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Lester S. Manzanares, PTRP, RN, MAN  CARDIOVASCULAR Means pertaining to the heart and blood vessels Cardi/o – heart Vascul/o – blood vessels These structures work together to provide efficient pumping system to supply all body tissues with oxygen, nutrients and transport away cellular waste products  Major Structures The Heart The Blood Vessels The Blood  The Pericardium and Walls of Heart Pericardium – double walled membranous sac that enclosed the heart Pericardial Fluid – between the layers to lubricate and prevent friction Epicardium-external layer heart Myocardium-thickest layer, muscle of the heart Endocardium-inner lining/lines the inside of the heart  Coronary Arteries The heart supplies itself with blood before the rest of body through the coronary artery system that arises from the base of the aorta. A blockage in one of these arteries leads to a myocardial infarction – “heart attack”  Electrical Waves P wave QRS complex T wave  Heart Sounds Lubb sound – closing of tricuspid and mitral valves Dubb sound – closing of semilunar valves in the aorta and pulmonary arteries as blood is pumped out of heart  Blood Vessels Lumen – opening within vessels through which blood flows Three types Arteries Veins Capillaries  Arteries Carry blood away from heart to all parts of body. High pressure system with smooth muscle in walls of artery.  Veins Low pressure collection vessels that return de- oxygenated, waste filled blood back to heart. Have one way valves to shunt blood flow toward heart. Need surrounding muscle action in legs to aid in venous return.  Capillaries Anatomic units that connect arterial and venous systems Only one cell thickness, smallest vessels in body Slow flow allows time for exchange of nutrients, oxygen, waste materials between tissue fluids and surrounding cells  Pulse and Blood Pressure Pulse – rhythmic expansion and contraction of an artery produced by the pressure of the blood moving through the arteries Blood Pressure – measurement of amount of pressure against walls of arteries Systolic – during ventricular contraction, highest Diastolic – during ventricular relaxation, lowest Recorded as systolic over diastolic Systolic - first click, Diastolic - Last click when getting blood pressure Normal Heart http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/CVHTML/CV001.htm  Coronary Artery Disease – USA’s leading cause of death Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries can cause angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and sudden death Atherosclerosis – hardening and narrowing of arteries due to a buildup of cholesterol plaques Ischemia – deficiency of blood supply due to either the constriction or narrowing of a blood vessel Angina pectoris – severe chest pain usually caused by lack of oxygen supply to the heart A lumen (plural: lumina) is a term that describes the cavity within the tubular structure. Normal Coronary Artery Narrowing of lumen in coronary artery  Myocardial Infarction Also known as a heart attack or MI. Due to closing off of a coronary artery and resulting in an infarction of the Also known as myocardium tissue necrosis Infarction – localized area of tissue necrosis due to lack of blood supply.  PTCA Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty  CABG Placing artery or vein grafts around blockages in coronary arteries. Coronary Artery Bypass CABG  Congestive Heart Failure Syndrome in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for oxygen and nutrients. In response to the reduced blood flow, the kidneys retain more fluid within the body and fluid accumulates in legs, ankles and lungs. Edema is the term for this fluid accumulation. When the fluid collects in the lungs, it is called Pulmonary Edema. Diuretics are drugs to eliminate excess fluid volume such as Lasix. Cardiomegaly and Cardiomyopathy - heart is flaccid and enlarged http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/CVHTML/CV117.htm  Heart Valves Mitral Valve Prolapse – abnormal protrusion of mitral valve that results in incomplete closure Heart murmur – sound caused by blood back flowing through a heart valve that does not close properly. Back flow also called regurgitation Acute Bacterial Endocarditis (destroying aortic valve)-inflammation of inner layer of heart http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/CVHTML/CV040.html  Cardiac Arrthymias or Dysrhythmias Bradycardia – slow heart beat less than 60 beats/minute Tachycardia – fast heart beat greater than 100 beats/minute. Paroxysmal tachycardia means sudden onset fast heartbeat Normal heart rhythm is called Sinus Rhythm rate of 80-100bpm.  Fibrillation Irregular and ineffective contractions of the heart Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) – atria are beating in a rapid, unorganized fashion causing them to quiver and be ineffective in pumping blood. May or may not have a rapid heart rate Ventricular Fibrillation (V Fib) – rapid, quivering of ventricles. FATAL unless defibrillated A Fib  V Fib Fine V-Fib  Hypertension Consistently elevated blood pressure Systolic higher than 140 Diastolic higher than 90 Can be essential – unknown origin Can be secondary – related to other medical problems Can be malignant – sudden onset of life- threateningly high BP  Cholesterol Substance that consists of fatty substances called lipids that circulate in blood and at normal levels are essential for good health. Becomes dangerous when these are elevated above normal LDL – low density lipoprotein “bad” cholesterol that causes buildup in arteries HDL – high density lipoprotein “good” cholesterol that carries unused cholesterol back to liver & prevents buildup Triglycerides –fatty acids  Arteries Arteriosclerosis – hardening of the arteries that reduces flow of blood through these vessels  Aneurysm –localized weak spot or enlargement of the wall of an artery Abdominal Aorta http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/ATHHTML/ATH021.html Aortic Aneurysm of Abdomen  Veins Phlebitis – inflammation of a vein  Varicose Veins Abnormally swollen Veins usually in legs. One way valves no Longer function Properly allowing blood To back flow & pool.  Thrombus and DVT Blood clot attached to the interior wall of a vein or artery When located in a deep vein is called a DVT or deep vein thrombosis DVT-Deep Vein Thrombosis Femoral Vein  Embolus Foreign object such as blood clot, bit of tissue, tumor or plaque or quantity of air or gas that is circulating in the blood stream – when embolus causes blockage of vessel called embolism  Diagnostic Procedures of Cardiovascular System Pulse Oximeter – external monitor placed on patient’s finger to measure amount of oxygenated blood in circulation – normally 96 to 100% of blood circulating is oxygenated  Diagnostic Procedures of Cardiovascular System Angiography – radiographic (x-ray) study of blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium – the resulting film is called an angiogram. Cardiac Catheterization Cardiac Catheterization  Electrocardiogram or EKG/ECG Recording of the electrical activity heart. A Holter monitor Is a portable EKG Worn for 24 hrs  Stress Test EKG measurement of cardiovascular function during and after stress such as exercise on treadmill  Echocardiography Ultrasound to evaluate the motion and structures of the heart – when a probe is placed in the esophagus to perform this test it is called a trans-esophageal echocardiography Pacemaker  Normal sinus rhythm QRS is regular P wave is regular Beat is between 80-100