What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system?
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Mastering this deck will enhance your understanding of cardiac mechanics and blood flow regulation, enabling accurate interpretation of cardiovascular assessments and contributing to effective clinical decision-making in diagnosing and managing heart-related conditions.
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| 1 | What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system? |
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Understand the physiological processes underlying blood circulation and heart function.
To transport oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body, and to maintain blood pressure and homeostasis. |
| Think of it as the body's transportation network. |
| 2 | Define cardiac output. | The volume of blood ejected by the ventricle into the aorta per minute, calculated as stroke volume multiplied by heart rate (CO = SV x HR). | Think of it as the heart's pumping power per minute. |
| 3 | What are the main components of the cardiac cycle? | Systole (ventricular contraction) and diastole (ventricular relaxation). | Remember 'S-D' for systole and diastole. |
| 4 | During which phase of the cardiac cycle do the ventricles contract? | During systole. | Think 'systole' as 'squeeze'. |
| 5 | What causes the first heart sound (S1)? | Closure of the atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid) at the beginning of ventricular systole. | Think of 'Lub' as the AV valves closing. |
| 6 | What causes the second heart sound (S2)? | Closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves at the end of systole. | Think of 'Dub' as the semi-lunar valves closing. |
| 7 | What is stroke volume? | The amount of blood ejected by the ventricle during each contraction, typically around 70 mL in adults. | Remember 'stroke' as the volume per beat. |
| 8 | Which factors influence stroke volume? | Preload, afterload, and contractility. | Think of preload as filling, afterload as resistance, and contractility as the strength of contraction. |
| 9 | Define preload in the context of cardiac function. | The degree of ventricular stretch before contraction, related to end-diastolic volume. | Remember: 'Preload' is the 'stretch before contraction'. |
| 10 | What is afterload? | The resistance the ventricles must overcome to eject blood, primarily determined by arterial blood pressure. | Think 'afterload' as the 'after' resistance. |
| 11 | How does increased afterload affect stroke volume? | It decreases stroke volume because the heart has to work harder to eject blood against higher resistance. | High blood pressure can increase afterload. |
| 12 | What is the Frank-Starling law of the heart? | The greater the ventricular stretch during diastole (preload), the greater the force of contraction and stroke volume, up to an optimal point. | Think 'more filling leads to a stronger squeeze.' |
| 13 | What is the significance of the end-diastolic volume (EDV)? | It represents the volume of blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole and influences stroke volume via preload. | EDV is the 'filling' volume just before contraction. |
| 14 | What does the ejection fraction measure? | The percentage of end-diastolic volume ejected during systole, typically around 55-70% in healthy hearts. | EF indicates how effectively the heart pumps blood. |
| 15 | What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node? | It acts as the heart's natural pacemaker, initiating electrical impulses that regulate heart rate. | SA node: 'Start your heart's rhythm here.' |
| 16 | Describe the sequence of electrical conduction in the heart. | SA node → atrioventricular (AV) node → bundle of His → bundle branches → Purkinje fibers. | Think 'SA to Purkinje' as the conduction highway. |
| 17 | What is the normal heart rate range in adults? | 60 to 100 beats per minute. | Remember: 'Normal is 60-100 bpm.' |
| 18 | Define systolic blood pressure. | The pressure in the arteries during ventricular systole, when the heart contracts. | The top number in blood pressure readings. |
| 19 | Define diastolic blood pressure. | The pressure in the arteries during ventricular diastole, when the heart relaxes. | The bottom number in blood pressure readings. |
| 20 | What is pulse pressure? | The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures, indicating the force of blood ejected with each heartbeat. | Pulse pressure = systolic – diastolic. |
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