THE CARDIOVASCUL

AR SYSTEMYour Heart and Beyond

THE ANATOMY OF THE HEART Located on the left side of the body

above the diaphragm. The base of the heart is parallel to the right edge of the sternum.

The apex of the heart ( lowest point) is at the left mid-clavicular line and at the 5th intercostal space.

Important to know for CPR!

PLACEMENT OF HEART

THE PUMPThe heart consists of two pumps in one

working together to send oxygen rich blood to the organs in the body.

RIGHT The right pump – right atrium and

ventricle – takes venous blood ( Low oxygenated

blood) into the atrium and down to the ventricle and is “pumped” to the lungs to obtain oxygen.

LEFT The left pump – left atrium and ventricle

– takes blood with oxygen from the lungs and it is “pumped” to the entire body system.

THE VALVES The Tricuspid Valve – right side The Mitral Valve – left side Open during contraction of the atrium

to allow blood flow to the ventricles. Close during the refilling of the atrium.

THE HEART IS ELECTRIC! What causes the heart to pump?

The SA Node (sinoatrial) is a group of specialized heart cells that are self- excitatory. In other words, they have automaticity.

Automaticity means they require no stimulus and may excite themselves at will.

SPREADING THE WEALTH 1)Impulse starts at the SA node 2)Travels to the AV (atrioventricular)

node :sits at the lower part of

right atrium 3)Travels down the Bundle of His this breaks off into right and

left bundle branch which go

to apex of heart 4) Travels to the Purkinje fibers = ventricular contraction

CONDUCTION OF THE HEART

THE HEARTBEAT The average adult heartbeat is 72 beats

per minute. Normal adult heartbeats are between

60-100 Less than 60 = bradycardia - Athletes, sleeping, medications, vagal

nerve stimulation Greater than 100 = tachycardia - Fever, exercise, stress, caffeine,

nicotine, amphetamines

FIBRILLATIONS Atrial Fibrillation: the atriums of the

heart are “ quivering” instead of beating.

- not immediately life threatening but can cause clots to form that travel to brain and cause a CVA (cerebral vascular accident) “stroke”

FIBRILLATIONS Ventricular Fibrillation: The ventricles of

the heart are “quivering” instead of beating.

- Life threatening = Requires an immediate response! Needs “ shock” from defibrillator.

AED = Automatic Emergency Defibrillator.

HEART ATTACKS What happens during an “MI”

( Myocardial Infarction)?

- The heart is an organ that also requires oxygenated blood to keep functioning.

- Coronary arteries feed the heart the oxygenated blood and are positioned around the exterior of the heart.

THE CORONARY ARTERIES

CORONARY CIRCULATION The right coronary artery: Supplies

blood to the right atrium, part of the left atrium, most of the right ventricle and the inferior part of the left ventricle.

The left coronary artery: Supplies blood to the left atrium and most of the left ventricle.

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION When a coronary artery becomes

blocked, (embolus or plaque or both) the blood flow to that part of the heart stops. Cardiac tissue and muscle begins to die very quickly.

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION It does hurt!!!!

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

TREATMENT Cardiac Catheterization: Invasive

procedure to find occluded artery and open the blockage with a stent.

STENTS

BE KIND TO YOUR HEART You only have one!