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The document outlines the cardiovascular system's blood flow process, detailing how oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart, travels to the lungs for oxygenation, and then is pumped out to the body as oxygen-rich blood. It also describes the heart's electrical activity, including the roles of the SA node, AV node, Bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers in coordinating heartbeats. Additionally, it covers ECG interpretation, highlighting key components such as the P-wave, QRS complex, and T-wave, which reflect the heart's electrical activity and potential abnormalities.

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2 views

heart

The document outlines the cardiovascular system's blood flow process, detailing how oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart, travels to the lungs for oxygenation, and then is pumped out to the body as oxygen-rich blood. It also describes the heart's electrical activity, including the roles of the SA node, AV node, Bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers in coordinating heartbeats. Additionally, it covers ECG interpretation, highlighting key components such as the P-wave, QRS complex, and T-wave, which reflect the heart's electrical activity and potential abnormalities.

Uploaded by

aisamwahydh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cardiovascular System

1. Oxygen-Poor Blood Returns to the Heart

• From the body: Blood lacking oxygen enters the right atrium via:
o Superior vena cava (from the upper body).
o Inferior vena cava (from the lower body).
• Right atrium contracts, pushing blood through the tricuspid valve into the right
ventricle.

2. Blood Travels to the Lungs (Pulmonary Circulation)

• The right ventricle contracts, sending blood through the pulmonary valve into the
pulmonary artery.
• The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen
and releases carbon dioxide.

3. Oxygen-Rich Blood Returns to the Heart

• Freshly oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins.
• The left atrium contracts, pushing blood through the mitral (bicuspid) valve into the
left ventricle.

4. Blood is Pumped to the Body (Systemic Circulation)

• The left ventricle (strongest chamber) contracts, forcing blood through the aortic valve
into the aorta.
• The aorta distributes oxygen-rich blood to the entire body.
Heart’s electrical activity

1. Sinoatrial (SA) Node – The Heart’s Pacemaker

• Located in the right atrium.


• Generates electrical impulses (60-100 beats per minute).
• This impulse spreads across both atria, causing atrial contraction (P-wave on ECG).

2. Atrioventricular (AV) Node – The Signal Delay Center

• Located between the atria and ventricles.


• Slows down the impulse to allow the ventricles time to fill with blood (PR interval on
ECG).
• If the AV node is blocked, the ventricles may not receive signals properly (heart block).

3. Bundle of His – The Signal Highway

• Carries the impulse from the AV node to the ventricles.


• Splits into the right and left bundle branches, ensuring both ventricles contract
together.

4. Purkinje Fibers – The Final Push

• Spread throughout the ventricular walls.


• Causes a strong, coordinated ventricular contraction (QRS complex on ECG), pumping
blood to the lungs and body.

5. Repolarization – Resetting the Heart

• After contraction, the ventricles relax and reset for the next beat.
• This is seen as the T-wave on the ECG.
ECG interpretation

1. Atrial Activity (P-wave)

• The atria are the top chambers of the heart.


• They contract first to push blood into the ventricles.
• This electrical activity creates the P-wave on an ECG.
• If the P-wave is missing or irregular, it means something is wrong with atrial activity
(e.g., atrial fibrillation).

2. AV Node (PR Interval)

• The AV node (Atrioventricular Node) sits between the atria and ventricles.
• It slows down the electrical signal slightly to allow the ventricles time to fill with blood.
• This delay is represented by the PR interval on an ECG.
• If it’s too long, there may be a heart block (signal delay). If too short, there may be an
extra pathway (like in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome).

3. Ventricular Depolarization (QRS Complex)

• The ventricles (bottom chambers of the heart) pump blood to the lungs and body.
• Their contraction is the strongest electrical event in the heart, creating the QRS complex
on an ECG.
• A wide QRS means the signal is taking longer to travel (could be a bundle branch block
or ventricular rhythm).

4. ST Segment (Heart Attack or Ischemia?)

• After contraction, the heart needs time to reset (repolarize).


• The ST segment shows if the heart muscle is getting enough oxygen.
• If it’s elevated, it may mean a heart attack (STEMI).
• If it’s depressed, it may suggest ischemia (low oxygen supply).
5. Ventricular Repolarization (T-wave)

• The ventricles relax and reset after pumping.


• This is shown by the T-wave on the ECG.
• If the T-wave is inverted, it could mean ischemia.
• If it’s tall and peaked, it may suggest high potassium (hyperkalemia).

6. QT Interval (Risk of Dangerous Arrhythmias)

• The QT interval includes both the QRS complex (ventricular contraction) and the T-wave
(ventricular relaxation).
• It shows how long the ventricles take to contract and reset for the next beat.
• If the QT interval is too long, it increases the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias like
Torsades de Pointes.
• Causes of prolonged QT:
o Some medications (e.g., certain antibiotics, antidepressants).
o Low potassium, calcium, or magnesium.
o Congenital conditions (Long QT Syndrome).

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