Cardiovascular System Notes: Physiology of the Heart
Interesting Heart Fact Capillaries are so small it takes ten of them to equal the thickness of a human hair.
Review What are the 3 parts of the cardiovascular system? heart blood blood vessels What do arteries do? Take blood AWAY from the heart What are the 3 layers of an artery? Tunica externa /connective tissue (elastin) tunica media/smooth muscle tunica intima/endothelium What do veins do? Bring blood TOWARD the heart What do veins have that arteries don t? VALVES (veins & arteries both have the same layers except the muscular layer is smaller)
What exchanges material between blood and the body s cells? CAPILLARIES How big are they? microscopic in size What is the outer membrane of the heart called? Pericardium What is the function of the pericardium? (there are 3) 1. protection 2. anchors heart to other structures 3. provides lubrication for heartbeat
What are the 3 layers of the heart wall? 1. Epicardium outside layer 2. Myocardium middle layer (cardiac muscle) 3. Endocardium inner layer What does the septum do? Divides the heart into right and left sides What are the 4 chambers of the heart? 1. Right Atria 2. Left Atria 3. Right Ventricle 4. Left Ventricle
What is the function of the right atria? receives blood from inferior & superior vena cava (oxygen poor) What is the function of the left atria? receives blood from pulmonary veins (oxygen rich blood from the lungs) What does the function of the left ventricle? receives blood from left atria & pumps it to the body (through the aorta) What is the function of the right ventricle? receives blood from the right atria and pumps it to the lungs (through the pulmonary arteries)
Where is the tricuspid valve located? between right atria and right ventricle Where is the bicuspid (mitral) valve located? between left atria and left ventricle Where is the pulmonary semilunar valve located? between pulmonary artery and right ventricle Where is the aortic semilunar valve located? between aorta and left ventricle
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HEART The Conducting System (electric) called an intrinsic conduction or nodal system of specialized tissue 1. Sinoatrial Node (SA) PACEMAKER OF HEART starts each heartbeat located in wall of right atrium made of specialized myocardial cells sends impulse to both atria, causing them to contract
SA Node AV Node 2. Atrioventricular Node (AV node) located at base of right atrium receives impulse from SA node
Atrioventricular Bundle Location: middle of septum Atrioventricular Bundle Direction of Heart Beat impulse from AV node goes down bundle to base of heart it then travels up the sides of the ventricles through the PURKINJE NETWORK causing the ventricles to contract from the bottom up
RATE OF HEART BEAT Factors affecting heart rate age, sex, physical activity, temperature, thought processes, chemicals (natural and otherwise) rate high at birth (100 140 bpm) then declines steadily until average is reached (70 80 bpm) heart rate faster in females slower in trained athletes
CARDIAC CYCLE the events of one complete heartbeat length of cycle (heartbeat) is about 0.8 sec atria contract at the same time as they relax, the ventricles contract SYSTOLE DIASTOLE contraction of ventricle relaxation of ventricle Cardiac Output amount of blood pumped out of each side of the heart in 1 minute heart rate X stroke volume
PULSE & BLOOD PRESSURE Pulse pulse can be found at many sites on the body expansion & contraction of an artery as the left ventricle contracts normal is 70 80 bpm (there are exceptions to this)
Blood Pressure Measuring BP pressure blood exerts on the inner walls of blood vessels BP is a measure of the systolic pressure (ventricles contracting) OVER the diastolic pressure (ventricles relaxing) Example: 110/70 is in normal range Factors affecting BP nervous system, blood volume (kidneys), temp, chemicals, diet, exercise
The Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) amplifies electric current of heart producing distinct wave patterns
P wave QRS Complex T wave P wave QRS Complex T wave depolarization of atria depolarization of ventricles repolarization of ventricles