ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

The
Cardiovascular
System
CU 8

Ppt Prepared by:

Trinidad J. Salcedo’23
OLFU-QC
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
After the lecture, the students will be able to:

01 02 03
Discuss the different
Explain the importance of Discuss how the heart
functions of the heart
the relationship between produces & regulates its
structure & function. action potentials &
conduction system

04 05 06
Discuss the pulmonary & Describe the heart’s blood Discuss the different
systemic circuits flow, blood supply regulations of the heart
 INTRODUCTION
People often refer to the heart as the seat of emotions such as
having a lot of heart or being disappointed due to broken heart.
Emotions, however, are a product of brain functions, not heart
functions.
The heart is a muscular organ that is essential for life because it
pumps blood through the body. The force is commonly produced by
a pump, which increases the pressure, thus fluid flows. Like a pump
that forces water through the pipe. The heart contracts forcefully to
pump blood through the blood vessels of the body.
Together, the heart, blood vessels & blood make up the
Cardiovascular system.
 TERMINOLOGIES
Aortic valve - Heart valve that prevents backflow from the aorta to LV.
Apex - Pointed end of the heart, the location of point of maximum impulse.
Atrioventricular (AV) node - Group of pacemaker cells in the interatrial
septum that relays impulses from the atria to the ventricles
Atrium - Upper chamber of each half of the heart
Automaticity - Unique ability of the cardiac muscle to contract without
nervous stimulation.
Baroreceptors (Press Receptors)- Pressure sensors in the aorta & carotid
arteries that detect changes in blood pressure.
Base - Broadest part of the heart; where great vessels enter & leave
Cardiac cycle - Series of events that occur from the beginning of one heart
beat to the beginning of the next.
 TERMINOLOGIES
Cardiac output - Amount of blood pumped by the heart in 1 minute’
Chemoreceptors - Sensors in the aortic arch, carotid arteries & medulla that
detect increased levels of CO2, decreased levels of O2, & decreases in pH.
Chordae tendineae - Tendinous cords that connect the edges of the AV
valves to the papillary muscles to prevent inversion of the valve during
ventricular systole.
Coronary arteries - Vessels that deliver oxygenated blood to the
myocardium
Coronary sinus - Large transverse vein on the heart’s posterior that returns
blood to the right atrium.
Diastole - Period of cardiac muscle relaxation
Electrocardiogram (ECG) - Record of the electrical currents in the heart
Endocardium - Endothelial membrane that lines the chambers of the heart.
 TERMINOLOGIES
Epicardium - Serous membrane on the surface of the myocardium.
Mediastinum - Space between the lungs & beneath the sternum
Mitral valve - Valve that regulates blood flow between the left atrium & left
ventricle
Myocardium - Middle layer of the heart wall; composed of cardiac muscle
Pericardial cavity - Space between the visceral & parietal layers of the
serous pericardium that contains a small amount of serous fluid
Pericardium - Membranous fibro-serous sac enclosing the heart & the
bases of the great vessels
Preload - Amount of tension, or stretch, in the ventricular muscle just
before it contracts.
Proprioceptors - Sensors in muscles & joints that signal the cardiac
center of changes in physical activity.
 TERMINOLOGIES
Pulmonary valve - Heart valve that prevents backflow from the pulmonary
artery to the right ventricle
Purkinje fiber - Nerve-like processes that extend from the bundle branches
to the ventricular myocardium; form the last part of the cardiac conduction
system
Rhythmicity - Heart’s ability to beat regularly.
Semilunar valves - Two valves that regulate flow between the ventricles &
the great arteries
Sinoatrial node - Heart’s primary pacemaker, where normal cardiac
impulses arise
Stroke volume - Amount of blood ejected by the heart with each beat
Systole - Contraction of the chambers of the heart
Tricuspid valve – Right atrioventricular valve, which regulates flow between
the right atrium & right ventricle
Ventricles - Two lower chambers of the heart
What are the functions of the heart?
1. Generates blood pressure – forces
blood through the blood vessels.
2. Routes blood – separates the
pulmonary & systemic circulations, which
ensures the flow of oxygen-rich blood to
tissues.
3. Ensures one-way blood flow – valves of
the heart ensure 1- way flow of blood
through the heart & blood vessels.
4. Regulates blood supply – changes in
the rate & force of heart contraction
match blood flow to the changing
metabolic needs of the tissues during
rest, exercise & changes in body
position.
What are functions of the Heart?
The heart of a healthy adult, at rest,
pumps approximately 5 liters of blood per
minute.
The heart is a single structure but
actually has 2 pumps in one:
❖ Right side of the heart - pumps blood to
the lungs & back to the left side of the
heart through the vessels of the
pulmonary circulation.
❖ Left side of the heart - pumps blood to
all other tissues of the body & back to
the right side of the heart through
vessels of the systemic circulation.
 HEART CHARACTERISTICS
Size: Size of a closed fist &
weighs less than 1 lb.
Shape: Blunt cone.
Location: Between lungs in
thoracic cavity.
Mediastinum – Midline partition
Orientation: Apex (bottom)
towards left side.
Apex- Blunt, rounded point of the
heart.
Base - Larger, flat part at the
opposite end of the heart.
 HEART COVERINGS
Pericardium: Double layered
sac that anchors & protects
heart within the mediastinum.
Fibrous Pericardium : Inner layer
consists of flat epithelial cells with
a thin of connective tissue.
Serous Pericardium-Serous
membranes :
• Parietal pericardium-
Membrane around heart’s cavity
• Visceral pericardium - Membrane
on heart’s surface.
Pericardial cavity - Space around
heart
 HEART LAYERS
The heart lies in the
pericardial cavity formed by
the pericardium or pericardial
sac.
Epicardium - surface of heart
(outside)
Myocardium - thick, middle
layer composed of cardiac
muscle
Endocardium - smooth, inner
surface
 CARDIAC MUSCLE
Cardiac Muscle -
❖ 1 centrally located
nucleus
❖ Branching cells
❖ Rich in mitochondria
❖ Striated (actin &
myosin)
❖ Ca2 + & ATP used for
contractions
❖ Intercalated disks
connect cells
 CHAMBERS & BLOOD VESSELS
Four Chambers:
1. Left atrium (LA)
2. Right atrium (RA)
The right & left atria (entrance) are located at the base of the heart.
Atria - Upper portion; Holding chambers
• Small, thin walled, contract minimally to push blood into ventricles
• Interatrial septum: separates right & left atria
3. Left ventricle (LV)
4. Right ventricle (RV)
The right & left ventricles (cavities) extend from the base of the heart.
Ventricles - Lower portion; Pumping chambers
• Thick, strong walled, contract forcefully to propel blood out of heart
• Interventricular septum: separates right & left ventricles
Coronary sulcus: separates atria from ventricles.
Anterior interventricular sulcus extends inferiorly from the coronary sulcus
on the anterior surface of the heart.
Posterior interventricular sulcus – posterior surface.
 HEART VALVES
HEART VALVES - structures that ensure
one-way blood flow
1. ATRIOVENTRICULAR VALVES (AV):
between atria & ventricles
❖ Tricuspid valve: AV valve between RA &
RV; 3 cusps
❖ Bicuspid valve (Mitral): AV valve
between LA & LV; 2 cusps
2. SEMILUNAR VALVES:
❖ Pulmonary valve: base of pulmonary
trunk
❖ Aortic valve: base of aorta
Chordae tendineae: attached to AV valve
flaps ; support valves
WHEN TO TAKE VS / ASSESS VS
 BICUSPID VALVE
What happens when Bicuspid Valve is Open?
• Blood flows from LA into LV.
• Aortic semilunar valve is closed.
• Tension on chordae tendineae is low.
What happens when Bicuspid Valve is Closed?
• Blood flows from LV into aorta.
• Aortic semilunar valve is open.
• Tension on chordae tendineae is high.
Heart Valves
(a) Anterior view of the bicuspid valve, the chordae tendinea, & the
papillary muscles.
(b) In superior view, note that the three cusps of each semilunar
valve meet to prevent the backflow of the blood
*Photo and content taken from Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology by Vanputte, Regan &
Russo (2016)
Figure 8.8
 PULMONARY CIRCUIT
RIGHT SIDE OF HEART: Pulmonary circuit
❖ carries blood from heart to lungs
❖ blood is O2 poor, CO2 rich
Right Atrium - receives blood from 3 places:
Superior & inferior vena cava & coronary
sinus
Superior vena cava - drains blood above
diaphragm (head, neck, thorax, upper limbs)
Inferior vena cava - drains blood below
diaphragm (abdominopelvic cavity & lower
limbs)
Coronary sinus - drains blood from
myocardium
Right Ventricle - opens into pulmonary trunk
Pulmonary trunk - splits into right & left
pulmonary arteries
Pulmonary arteries - carry blood away from
heart to lungs.
PULMONARY CIRCULATION - Carries
deoxygenated blood away from the
heart, to the lungs & returns oxygenated
blood back to the heart.

PATHWAY OF PULMONARY
CIRCULATION - From the RA, the
deoxygenated blood is pumped through
the TV into the RV. Then, this blood
pumped from the RV through the
Pulmonary Artery (PA) & travels to the
lungs for oxygenation. When CO2 is
released & O2 is picked up during
respiration. Then, the pulmonary veins
(PV) return oxygenated blood to the LA
of the heart, thru MV to LV then to Aortic
Valve to the Aorta – Systemic
Circulation.
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 SYTEMIC CIRCUIT
LEFT SIDE OF HEART: Systemic
circuit:
❖ carries blood from heart to body
❖ blood is O2 rich, CO2 poor
Left Atrium - 4 openings (pulmonary
veins) that receive blood from lungs
Left Ventricle - opens into aorta
thicker, contracts more forcefully,
higher blood pressure than right
ventricle has to get to body
Aorta - carries blood from Left
Ventricle to the different parts of the
body.
SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION – carries oxygenated
blood away from the heart to the body & returns
deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

PATHWAY OF SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION - O2 rich blood

from the lungs enters the LV through the PV
(pulmonary veins). The blood is then pumped through
the MV into the LV. From the LV, blood is pumped
through the AV ( aortic valve) & into the Aorta.
The Aorta arches & branches into the major arteries to
the upper body before passing through the diaphragm,
where it branches further into arteries which supply
the lower parts of the body. The arteries branch into
the smaller arteries, arterioles & finally capillaries.
The deoxygenated blood continues through the
capillaries which merged into venules, then, veins, &
superior & inferior venae cava which drain into the
right atrium (RA) of the heart. From RA, the blood will
travel through the pulmonary circulation.
HEART BLOOD SUPPLY
CORONARY ARTERIES -
supply blood to heart wall &
originate from base of
aorta (above aortic
semilunar valve)
Left coronary artery - has 3
branches, supplies blood to
anterior heart wall & LV
Right coronary artery -
originates on right side of
aorta; supplies blood to RV
 ACTION POTENTIAL IN CARDIAC MUSCLE
Changes in membrane channels’ permeability are responsible for producing
action potentials and is called pacemaker potential.
1. Depolarization phase:
- Na+ channels open
- Ca2+ channels open
2. Plateau phase:
- Na+ channels close
- Some K+ channels open
- Ca2+ channels remain open
3. Repolarization phase:
- K+ channels are open
- Ca2+ channels close

• Plateau phase prolongs action potential by keeping Ca2+ channels open.

• In skeletal muscle action potentials take 2 msec, in cardiac muscle they
take 200-500 msec.
 HEART CONDUCTION SYSTEM
Conduction System - contraction of
atria & ventricles by cardiac
muscle cells.
Sinoatrial node (SA node): in RA
where action potential originate &
functions as pacemaker. Presence
of large number of Ca2+ channels

PATH OF ACTION POTENTIAL

THROUGH HEART
1. SA node
2. AV node (atrioventricular)
3. AV bundle
4. Right & Left Bundle branches
5. Purkinje fibers
 ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
Electrocardiogram - record of
electrical events in heart
• diagnose cardiac abnormalities
• uses electrodes
• contains P wave, QRS complex,
T wave
Components of ECG/EKG
❖ P wave -Depolarization of atria
❖ QRS complex:
• depolarization of ventricles
• contains Q, R, S waves
❖ T wave - repolarization of
ventricles
 CARDIAC CYCLE
Heart is 2 side by side pumps: right & left
Atria: Primers for pumps
Ventricles: Power pumps
Cardiac Cycle - Repetitive pumping action which includes
contraction & relaxation
Cardiac muscle contractions -Produce pressure changes within
heart chambers. The pressure changes are responsible for blood
movement. Blood moves from areas of high to low pressure.
❖ Atrial systole - contraction of atria
❖ Ventricular systole- contraction of ventricles
❖ Atrial diastole- relaxation of atria
❖ Ventricular diastole - relaxation of ventricles
CARDIAC CYCLE
 HEART SOUNDS
Stethoscope - used to hear lung
& heart sounds
First sound is lub
Second is dub
Sounds result from opening &
closing valves
Murmurs are due to faulty valves.
REGULATION OF HEART FUNCTION
Stroke Volume - volume of blood pumped per
ventricle per contraction. 70 ml/beat
Heart Rate - number of heart beats in 1 min. 72
beats/min. Normal range- 60 to 100
Cardiac Output: volume of blood pumped by a
ventricle in 1 min.
Cardiac output is the product of the heart rate (HR) &
the stroke volume (SV)
CO = HR × SV
❖ CO = HR (75 beats/min) × SV (70 ml/beat)
❖ CO = 5250 ml/min = 5.25 L/min
 REGULATION OF STROKE VOLUME
❖ 60 percent of blood in ventricles
(about 70 ml) is pumped with each
heartbeat
Starling’s law of the heart
❖ Critical factor controlling SV is how
much cardiac muscle is stretched.
❖ The more the cardiac muscle is
stretched, the stronger the
contraction
❖ Venous return is the important
factor influencing the stretch of
heart muscle.
REGULATION OF STROKE VOLUME
❖ Intrinsic Regulation - mechanisms contained within heart.
Venous return - amount of blood that returns to heart
Preload - degree ventricular walls are stretched at end of
diastole
• Venous return, preload & stroke volume are related to each
other
❖ Starlings Law of the Heart: relationship between preload &
stroke volume influences cardiac output
(Ex. Exercise increases venous return, preload, stroke
volume, & cardiac output)
❖ After load: pressure against which ventricles must pump blood

❖ Extrinsic Regulation - mechanisms external to heart - nervous

or chemical regulation
 NERVOUS REGULATION
NERVOUS REGULATION: BARORECEPTOR
REFLEX - mechanism of nervous system which
regulates heart function.
❖ Keeps heart rate & stroke volume in normal
range
❖ Baroreceptors -monitor blood pressure in
aorta & carotid arteries (carry blood to brain)
❖ Changes in blood pressure cause changes in
frequency of action potentials involves
medulla oblongata.
 CHEMICAL REGULATION
Chemical Regulation: Chemoreceptor Reflex
❖ Chemicals can affect heart rate & stroke
volume
❖ Epinephrine & norepinephrine from adrenal
medulla can increase heart rate & stroke
volume
❖ Excitement, anxiety, anger can increase
cardiac output
❖ Depression can decrease cardiac output
❖ Medulla oblongata has chemoreceptors for
changes in pH & CO2
❖ K+, Ca2+ & Na+ affect cardiac function
 Modifying Basic Heart Rate
Factors Modifying Basic Heart Rate (HR)
1. Neural (ANS) controls
❖ Sympathetic nervous system speeds HR.
❖ Parasympathetic nervous system, primarily
vagus nerve fibers, slow & steady the HR.
2. Hormones & ions
❖ Epinephrine & thyroxine speed HR
❖ Excess or lack of calcium, sodium, &
potassium ions also modify heart activity
3. Physical factors
❖ Age, gender, exercise, body temperature
influence HR
 HEART RATE / BLOOD PRESSURE
PULSE REFLECTS THE HEART BEAT.
PERIPHERAL PULSE S– pulse located away
from the heart. Ex. Foot, wrist, neck.
APICAL PULSE – Central pulse located at the
apex of the heart. PMI (point of maximal
impulse.)

BLOOD PRESSURE - measure of the force

exerted by blood against the blood vessel
walls.
Systolic Pressure – Ventricles contract
Diastolic Pressure – Ventricles relax
PULSE PRESSURE - difference between
systolic & diastolic pressures. Ex. 120-80 = 40
mmHg. It increases when stroke volume
increases.
 REFERENCES:
Thanks
VanPutte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A. (2022). Seeley's Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology. New
York, New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Rizzo, D. C. (2016). Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (Fourth ed.). Boston,
Massachussetts: Cengage Learning.
Thompson, G. S. (2015). Understanding Anatomy & Physiology: A Visual, Auditory, Interactive
Approach,2nd Edition. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.
Tortora, G. J., & Freudenrich, C. C. (2011). Visualizing Anatomy & Physiology. John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.

COURSE TASK:
QUIZ
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