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Anatomy & Physiology: Blood, Heart, and Blood Vessels

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Terms in this set (31)

  • What are the main components of blood?

    Proteins, cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets), plasma, and pH balance.

  • What is hematocrit?

    The percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume.

  • Where are blood cells produced and which hormones influence their production?

    Produced in bone marrow. Hormones like erythropoietin (from kidneys) stimulate red blood cell production.

  • Which organs are involved in blood cell and plasma protein production?

    Spleen, liver, kidney, and bone marrow.

  • What is blood colloid osmotic pressure?

    The pressure exerted by plasma proteins that pulls water into the capillaries from the interstitial fluid.

  • What role do platelets play in hemostasis?

    Platelets aggregate to form a plug and release chemicals to promote blood clotting.

  • What are the steps in the pathway of hemostasis?

    Vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, and coagulation cascade.

  • What are the three pathways of the coagulation cascade?

    Intrinsic, extrinsic, and common pathways.

  • What causes agglutination in blood typing?

    Antibodies binding to antigens on red blood cells causing clumping.

  • What is autorhythmicity in the heart?

    The heart's ability to generate its own rhythmic electrical impulses without external stimuli.

  • What is the function of heart valves?

    To ensure unidirectional blood flow through the heart chambers.

  • What are the systemic and pulmonary circuits?

    Systemic circuit carries blood between the heart and body; pulmonary circuit carries blood between the heart and lungs.

  • What ion changes occur during the action potential of a contractile cardiac cell?

    Na+ influx causes depolarization, Ca2+ influx causes plateau, and K+ efflux causes repolarization.

  • What are the phases of a contractile cardiac cell action potential?

    Depolarization, plateau, and repolarization.

  • What roles do the SA and AV nodes play in the heart?

    SA node is the primary pacemaker; AV node delays impulse to allow ventricular filling.

  • What do ECG waves and intervals represent?

    Electrical activity of the heart: P wave (atrial depolarization), QRS complex (ventricular depolarization), T wave (ventricular repolarization).

  • Define tachycardia and bradycardia.

    Tachycardia: heart rate >100 bpm; Bradycardia: heart rate <60 bpm.

  • What is cardiac output and how is it calculated?

    Volume of blood pumped per minute; calculated as \(\text{CO} = \text{HR} \times \text{SV}\) (heart rate × stroke volume).

  • What is the Frank-Starling Law of the heart?

    The stroke volume increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood filling the heart (preload).

  • What are chronotropic agents?

    Factors that change heart rate by affecting the SA node, e.g., sympathetic stimulation increases rate.

  • What is the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)?

    Hormone that reduces blood volume and pressure by promoting sodium and water excretion.

  • What are the main types of blood vessels?

    Arteries, veins, and capillaries.

  • What is an anastomosis and where is the Circle of Willis located?

    An anastomosis is a connection between blood vessels; the Circle of Willis is a cerebral arterial anastomosis at the brain base.

  • What are portal systems?

    Circulatory pathways where blood passes through two capillary beds before returning to the heart.

  • What is mean arterial pressure (MAP)?

    The average pressure in arteries during one cardiac cycle; important for organ perfusion.

  • How is arterial blood pressure measured?

    Using a sphygmomanometer to detect systolic and diastolic pressures.

  • What roles do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems play in blood pressure regulation?

    Sympathetic increases heart rate and vasoconstriction; parasympathetic decreases heart rate.

  • Where are chemoreceptors and baroreceptors located and what do they detect?

    Chemoreceptors in carotid and aortic bodies detect blood chemistry; baroreceptors in carotid sinus and aortic arch detect pressure changes.

  • What is hypertension?

    Chronic high blood pressure, often >140/90 mmHg, increasing risk of cardiovascular disease.

  • What is net filtration pressure (NFP) in capillaries?

    The balance of hydrostatic and osmotic pressures that determines fluid movement across capillary walls.

  • What causes edema?

    Excess fluid accumulation in tissues due to increased hydrostatic pressure, decreased osmotic pressure, or lymphatic obstruction.