Flashcards : Cardiology Fundamentals and Techniques — 35 cartes

The main layers are the pericardium (protects and lubricates the heart), myocardium (muscle layer responsible for contraction), and endocardium (lines the heart chambers and valves, providing a smooth surface for blood flow).

Pericardium, myocardium, endocardium.

The pericardium anchors the heart and reduces friction; the myocardium's muscular structure enables effective contractions for blood pumping; the endocardium ensures smooth blood flow and prevents clot formation within the chambers.

Arteries and veins.

Vessel walls consist of an endothelium lining, a muscular layer, and an outer adventitia. Arteries have a thicker muscular layer to withstand higher pressure and maintain blood flow, while veins have a thinner muscular layer and often contain valves to prevent backflow.

Pulmonary: lungs; systemic: body.

The main types of blood vessels are arteries, which carry oxygenated blood away from the heart; veins, which return deoxygenated blood to the heart; and capillaries, where exchange of gases and nutrients occurs between blood and tissues.

S1: ventricular contraction; S2: relaxation.

The main circulatory pathways are the systemic circulation, which supplies oxygenated blood to the body, and the pulmonary circulation, which carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and back.

Turbulence from stenosis or regurgitation.

Blood flows from the body into the right atrium, then to the right ventricle, and through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs. Oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to the left atrium, then passes to the left ventricle, and is pumped through the aorta to the systemic circulation.

P: atrial depolarization; QRS: ventricular; T: repolarization.

Inspection, palpation, and auscultation are the primary techniques. They help evaluate anatomical features, blood flow, and heart sounds to identify abnormalities.

SA node → AV node → bundle of His → Purkinje fibers.

Auscultation allows auscultation of heart sounds and murmurs, helping to detect valvular abnormalities, abnormal blood flow, and other cardiac conditions.

The first heart sound (S1) represents the closure of the atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid), and the second heart sound (S2) represents the closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves.

Heart murmurs are caused by abnormal turbulence of blood flow, often related to valvular stenosis or regurgitation. They are classified based on timing, intensity, pitch, quality, and location during the cardiac cycle.

Structural imaging tests are diagnostic procedures that visualize the anatomy of the heart and blood vessels, such as echocardiography, MRI, CT scans, and angiography, to identify structural abnormalities, defects, or diseases.

They provide detailed images of cardiac structures, enabling detection of anomalies, assessment of function, and guidance for treatment planning in cardiovascular diseases.

Electrical waves in the heart refer to the propagation of electrical impulses that trigger cardiac muscle contractions. They are essential for maintaining coordinated heartbeats and are represented on an ECG as P, QRS, and T waves.

Depolarization is the electrical change that makes cardiac cells less negative inside, initiating muscle contraction. It is primarily represented by the P wave and QRS complex on the ECG, indicating atrial and ventricular depolarization, respectively.

The main components are the P wave (atrial depolarization), the QRS complex (ventricular depolarization), and the T wave (ventricular repolarization).

The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which is the electrical activation of the atria before contraction.

The PR segment represents the delay at the atrioventricular (AV) node, allowing for proper atrial contraction and ventricular filling; it is also used to assess AV nodal block or conduction abnormalities.

The ST segment reflects the plateau phase of ventricular repolarization; deviations from the baseline can indicate myocardial ischemia or infarction.

The initial approach involves a thorough physical examination—including inspection, palpation, and auscultation—and obtaining a detailed patient history to identify symptoms suggestive of specific cardiovascular abnormalities.

Essential tests include electrocardiography (ECG) for electrical activity, echocardiography for structural assessment, and additional imaging like chest X-ray, MRI, or angiography as needed for comprehensive evaluation.

The main layers include the pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium, each playing a vital role in the structure and function of the heart.

Arteries consist of endothelium, muscular, and adventitia layers; veins are responsible for returning blood to the heart, with structures suited for low-pressure flow.

The two main circulatory systems are the systemic circulation, which carries blood from the heart to the body, and the pulmonary circulation, which carries blood between the heart and the lungs.

The primary function of the blood circulation system is to transport oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body, ensuring tissue perfusion and homeostasis.

The main components are inspection, palpation, and auscultation, which collectively help evaluate the heart’s structure, function, and blood flow characteristics.

Auscultation allows the clinician to listen to heart sounds and murmurs, which are crucial for detecting valvular abnormalities, abnormal blood flow, and other cardiac conditions.

The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which initiates atrial contraction.

The QRS complex indicates ventricular depolarization, leading to ventricular contraction and blood ejection.