Case Study
By: Kayla Pelishek
Major Blood Vessels of the Heart
- Aorta - the largest artery in the body of which most major arteries branch off from.
- Brachiocephalic Artery - carries oxygenated blood from the aorta to the head, neck and arm regions of the body.
- Carotid Arteries - supply oxygenated blood to the head and neck regions of the body.
- Common iliac Arteries - carry oxygenated blood from the abdominal aorta to the legs and feet.
- Coronary Arteries - carry oxygenated and nutrient filled blood to the heart muscle.
- Pulmonary Artery - carries de-oxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
- Subclavian Arteries - supply oxygenated blood to the arms.
- Brachiocephalic Veins - two large veins that join to form the superior vena cava.
- Common iliac Veins - veins that join to form the inferior vena cava.
- Pulmonary Veins - transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
- Venae Cavae - transport de-oxygenated blood from various regions of the body to the heart.
Heart and Blood
4 Heart Valves/ Chambers
left atrium- takes in blood that is high in co2 low in o2 right atrium- takes in blood high in o2 low in co2 left ventricle- sends blood to aorta right ventricle- sends oxygenated blood to body left atrium- takes in blood that is high in co2 low in o2 right atrium- takes in blood high in o2 low in co2 left ventricle- sends blood to aorta right ventricle- sends oxygenated blood to body
Flow of Blood through Pulmonary and Systemic circulation
First, deoxygenated blood enters the right side of the heart. From there it is pumped to the lungs to absorb oxygen. The oxygenated blood is then returned to the heart, but this time to the left side. Then it is pumped into the aorta, and from there to the rest of the body.
Blood Cells
The difference of what normal blood looks like compared to how blood with leukemia cells looks.
Make up of the Pericardium
FUN FACT:
Conduction System of the Heart
Arteries
- The walls of arteries are much thicker as it carries blood away from the heart at high pressure
- Major arteries close to the heart also have thick layers of smooth muscle in their walls to withstand the increases in pressure as the heart pumps
- The walls also have a large proportion of elastic fibres in both the inner and middle layers – this allows for the arteries to stretch according to the increases in volume of blood. As the heart relaxes the artery walls return to their original position, hence pushing the blood along – maintaining a constant flow in one direction.
- Arteries near the surface of the skin, the changes in the arteries diameter can be felt as a pulse.
Veins
- The walls have fewer elastic fibres and the lumen is wider (to allow for easier blood flow)
- Veins have two mechanisms for keeping the blood flow constant and in one direction. Firstly many veins are close to muscles, hence when the muscles contract they compress the walls of the vein – pumping blood forwards. Veins also have valves (small pocket like folds of the endothelium lining the lumen of veins), they are spaced along regular intervals in veins. They work much like one-way swinging doors – as the blood is forced through the valve opens, however once the pressure drops and the blood flow decreases, the valve shuts – preventing backflow of blood.
Capillaries
- The one cell thick endothelial layer is a continuation of the lumen arteries and veins
- Diffusion is a relatively slow process and hence the structure of capillaries is suited to slowing down the flow of blood
- In order to maximize the exchange of substances between the blood and cells capillaries have, thin walls (more efficient diffusion) a small lumen (forces blood cells to pass through in single file, slowing down the rate of flow and maximizing their exposed surface area)
- They form an expansive blood flow network, such that no cells are far from blood supply
ECG/ EKG
The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measures heart activity by detecting the electrical activity in the heart. Electrodes attached to the chest, neck, arms, and legs record the pathway of electrical impulses through the heart muscle and record these impulses as tracings on special graph paper. The test is simple and safe, and takes five to ten minutes to perform.
The purpose of the EKG is to detect heart disorders or blockages in the coronary arteries. A normally beating heart produces basically the same pattern of waves in all people.
Variations in this pattern can indicate a number of potential problems: irregular heart rhythms, damage to the heart muscle, enlargement of the heart's chambers, mineral imbalances in the blood. The EKG can also reveal whether the patient has had, or is having, a heart attack.
This test is not foolproof, however, and can produce false results. Some people with normal EKGs have heart trouble, and the graph may show abnormalities where none exists.
EKGs are usually a routine part of a physical checkup after age 40; before that age, patients are recommended to have at least one EKG to use for comparison later.
Blood Pressure
Your systolic pressure (the first and highest number), is the pressure or force the heart places on the walls of your blood vessels as it is working/pumping with each heartbeat.
Diastolic pressure (the second and lowest number) is the lowest pressure the blood places on the walls of your blood vessels when the heart is relaxed between beats.
Both of these measurements are important. A high systolic pressure indicates strain on the blood vessels when the heart is attempting to pump blood into your bloodstream. If your diastolic pressure is high, it means that your blood vessels have little chance to relax between heartbeats.
Normal Blood pressure is 120/80.