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The Cardiovascular System FINAL
The Cardiovascular System FINAL
Cardiovascular
System
Definition
Main components:
• Albumin
-makes up 58% of the plasma proteins
-helps keep fluid in your bloodstream so it doesn't leak into other tissues
-a protein made by your liver
• Globulins
-makes up 38% of the plasma proteins
-made in your liver by your immune system
-play an important role in liver function, blood clotting, and fighting infection
Plasma Proteins
• Fibrinogen
-makes up 4% of plasma proteins
-a clotting factor
-activation of clotting factor factors converts fibrinogen to fibrin
Composition of Plasma
• a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body's
organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from your organs
and tissues back to your lungs
• If a hemoglobin test reveals that your hemoglobin level is lower
than normal, it means you have a low red blood cell count (anemia).
Photo from: SEELEY’S ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY, NINTH
EDITION
Characteristics of RBC
• Red in color
Hemoglobin (red pigmentation)
• Life span: 120 days for males
and 110 days for females
• Normal value of RBC
Men: 5.4million/microliter
Female: 4.8million/microliter
1. Neutrophils
most abundant and first arrive
phagocytosis and secretion of
lysosomes
life span: 10 hours
WBC Differentials/Types
2. Eosinophils
acid-loving granulocyte
leave out of blood vessels
combats inflammation and allergic
reaction
Respond to parasites
Eosinophils: parasite infestation,
allergic reaction
WBC Differentials/Types
3. Basophils
base-loving
least abundant
triggers inflammatory and
allergic reaction
Releases: heparin, histamine,
serotonin
WBC Differentials/Types
4. Monocytes
last to arrive
largest of all WBCs
enlarges and becomes
macrophages (has capacity to
combat microbes 10x bigger
than its size)
WBC Differentials/Types
5. Lymphocytes
responsible for immunity/immune
response
3 Major Combatants in the Body:
a. B-cells/B-lymphocytes
b. T-cells/T-lymphocytes
c. Natural Killer Cells (NK)
Formed Elements
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
1. Oval-disc shape
2. Irregular spindles
3. Nearly colorless
4. Lifespan: 5-9 days
5. Normal count: 150,000-500,000 cells/microliter
Hemostasis
• Results from contraction of the smooth muscle of the vessel wall or also
known as vascular spasm
• Constriction of blocks small blood vessels, thus preventing blood flow
through them
• The action of the sympathetic nervous system is to cause vasoconstriction,
which restricts blood flow for several minutes to several hours
• Platelets release thromboxane
Platelet Aggregation/Platelet Plug Formation
• blood’s ability to clot can be assessed by the platelet count and the
prothrombin time measurement.
1. Platelet count- normal platelet count is 250,000–400,000
platelets per microliter of blood
2. Prothrombin time measurement- calculates how long it takes
for the blood to start clotting, which is normally 9–12 seconds
Diagnostic Blood Tests
Blood Chemistry
Blood Chemistry
• Location:
-within the thorax, between the lungs and superior to
the diaphragm
-2/3 of the heart’s mass is located at the left side of the
sternal border
Autonomic /Structural Considerations
• Coverings (pericardium):
-surrounds and encloses
the heart
-protects the heart and
holds the heart in place
2 parts of the Pericardium
Chambers Functions
Left ventricle -considered as the
Right atrium -receives blood from the “strongest chamber”
veins and pumps it to the -pumps oxygen-rich
right ventricle blood to the rest of the
Right ventricle -receives blood from the body
right atrium and pumps it
to the lungs, where it is
loaded with oxygen
• Intercalated discs
are small connections that join cardiac
muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) to each other
• Gap junctions
are part of the intercalated discs
• Nucleus
contains all of the cell’s genetic material
cardiac muscle cells typically only have
one nucleus
Heart Sounds
Heart Sounds
• depolarization = contraction
• repolarization = relaxation
Electrocardiogram
3. T-waves
• ventricular repolarization, diastole,
relaxation
• dome-shaped upward deflection
Electrocardiogram
1. Carries blood
2. Exchanges nutrients, waste products, and gases with tissues
3. Transports substances
4. Helps regulate blood pressure
5. Directs blood flow to the tissues
Structure
• tunica interna
a thin layer (only a few cells thick) of a vein and artery
sometimes referred to as the intima membrane
gives smoothness to the lining of the vessel, enhancing blood flow
varies in thickness between the blood vessels:
a. arteries- most elastic tissue
b. veins- very little tissue
c. capillaries- no elastic layer
Structure
• tunica media
consists of elastic fibers and smooth muscle that allow for vasoconstriction, changing blood
flow and pressure
supplied by the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
when stimulated, the walls contract, narrowing the lumen and increasing pressure within
the blood vessel:
a. arteries- varies by the size of the artery
b. veins- thin layer
c. capillaries- do not have tunica media
Structure
Arteries Veins
Transport blood away from the heart Transport blood to the heart
Carry oxygenated blood, except the pulmonary and Carry deoxygenated blood, except the pulmonary
umbilical arteries and umbilical veins
Have a narrow lumen Have a wider lumen
Have more elastic tissue Have less elastic tissue
Do not have valves Do not have valves
Transport blood under pressure Transport blood under low pressure
Arteries
Photo from: Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology For Nursing and Healthcare Students, SECOND
Blood pressure
Blood pressure
• Cardiac output
• Circulating volume
• Peripheral resistance
• Blood viscosity
• Hydrostatic pressure
Diseases
Abnormal Heart Rhythms or Arrhythmias
• These two conditions can cause the aorta to widen or tear. This raises the
chance of things like:
Atherosclerosis (hardened arteries)
High blood pressure
Connective tissue disorders that can weaken your blood vessel walls, such as
scleroderma, osteogenesis imperfecta, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and polycystic
kidney disease
Injury
Congenital Heart Disease
your lungs and blocks a blood vessel Sudden shortness of breath or rapid breathing
Fast heartbeat
• leads to low oxygen levels in your
Sudden cough
blood
Coughing up blood
• can damage the lung and other
Lightheadedness or fainting
organs and cause heart failure, too
Anxiety
Heart Attack
• Symptoms
Common heart attack signs and symptoms include:
Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching
sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to
your neck, jaw or back
Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Cold sweat
Fatigue
Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
Heart Failure
• a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest
your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body
Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
• can lead to heart failure
Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid buildup
• Main types of cardiomyopathy:
Dilated Cough while lying down
Hypertrophic Fatigue
Restrictive Heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or
• Symptoms fluttering
There might be no signs or symptoms in the early stages Chest discomfort or pressure
of cardiomyopathy. But as the condition advances, signs
and symptoms usually appear, including: Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
Heart Valve Disease
• Symptoms
may feel discomfort like fatigue and cramping in your legs and feet
that gets worse with physical activity due to the lack of blood flow
claudication
Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Symptoms:
Joint inflammation
Small nodules or hard, round bumps under the skin
A change in your child's neuromuscular movements (this is usually noted by a change in your child's
handwriting and may also include jerky movements)
Rash (a pink rash with odd edges that is usually seen on the trunk of the body or arms and legs)
Fever
Weight loss
Fatigue
Stomach pains
Stroke
• Types of Stroke
Ischemic Stroke
-most common type of stroke, accounting for almost 80 percent of all strokes, is caused by a clot or
other blockage within an artery leading to the brain
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
-intracerebral hemorrhage is a type of stroke caused by the sudden rupture of an artery within the
brain
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
-differs from an intracerebral hemorrhage in that the location of the rupture leads to blood filling the
space surrounding the brain rather than inside of it
Vascular Disease (Blood Vessel Disease)