What is the epicardium of the heart
Outside layer of the heart -
Layer is the parietal pericardium
Connective tissue layer
What is the myocardium of the heart
Middle layer of the heart -
Mostly cardiac muscle
What is the endocardium of the heart
Inner layer of the heart -
Endothelium
Atrioventricular valves
Between the atria and ventricles
Bicuspid and mitral valve (left)
Tricuspid valve (right)
Semilunar valve
Between ventricle and artery
Pulmonary semilunar valve
Aortic semilunar valve
Chordae tendineae
Valves open as blood is pumped through held in place by chordate tendineae
Close to prevent back flow
Operation of the AV valves
1) blood returning to the heart fills atria ,putting pressure against atrioventricular valves; the av valves are forced open
2) atria contract, forcing additional blood into ventricles
3) ventricles contract forcing blood against av valve cusp
4) av valves close
5) chordae tendineae tighten, preventing valve flaps from everting into atria
Operation of the semilunar valves
1) as ventricles contract and intraventricular pressure rises, blood is pushed up against semilunar valves, forcing them open
2) as ventricles relax, and intraventricular pressure falls, blood flows back from arteries, filling the cusp of semilunar valves and forcing them to close
Cardiac output ( and how to calculate it)
CO = heart rate (HR) X stroke volume (SV)
Amount of blood pumped by each side of the heart in one minute
Sinoatrial node (right atrium)
Heart pacemaker
Stroke volume ( and how to calculate it)
Stroke volume = volume of blood pumped by each ventricle in one contraction
Drug therapy for the cardiovascular treat what conditions
Angina medication
Nitrates
Beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
- relieve pain and prevent attacks of angina
High blood pressure medication
May require treatment with one or more drugs
Vasodilator
Diuretics
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
Congestive heart failure medication
Treated with medication that increase myocardial contractions.
Rhythm disorder medication
Treated with medications that normalise the heart rate by affecting the nervous system that controls heart rate
What is heart disease
Disease that affects the heart and blood vessels mainly related to atherosclerosis.
What is atherosclerosis
Build up of plaque (cholesterol) in artery walls
Risk factors of atherosclerosis
Diet, sedentary, hypertension, tobacco, diabetes, obesity, blood lipids, male
Results of atherosclerosis
Cause of Hypertension
Exact cause is not known in most patients.
Stable ischemic heart disease
- mostly commonly caused by obstruction of the coronary arteries by atheromatous plaque
Ischemic heart disease
Angina pectoris
- most common manifestation of the ischemic heart disease