Circulation of Blood

• What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system?

  Maintain adaptable blood supply to tissues
• What does the cardiovascular system supply to the tissues?

  Nutrients and signalling molecules
• What is removed from the tissues by the cardiovascular system?

  Waste products
• What does the cardiovascular system generate to facilitate blood flow?

  Pressure differentials
• What enables capillary exchange in the cardiovascular system?

  Capillary exchange mechanisms
• What are the factors affecting blood flow from A to B?

  Pressure difference, resistance to flow
• What is the formula for blood flow according to Darcy's Law?

  F = ΔP/R
• How does the pressure in a garden hose relate to blood flow?

  Pressure is controlled by tap opening/closing
• What does vessel radius correspond to in a garden hose?

  Hose width
• How does vessel length affect blood flow?

  Longer vessels increase resistance
• What effect does blood viscosity have on flow?

  High viscosity raises resistance, decreases flow
• How does vessel radius impact blood flow?

  Flow is proportional to $r^4$
• What happens to blood flow with low viscosity?

  It lowers resistance and increases flow
• What happens to blood flow with high viscosity?

  It raises resistance and decreases flow
• What is the fastest rate of blood flow in the cardiovascular system?

  Elastic artery
• What is the slowest rate of blood flow in the cardiovascular system?

  Vena cava
• Which side of the heart generates more pressure?

  Left side
• What does the right side of the heart serve?

  Pulmonary circuit
• What does the left side of the heart serve?

  Systemic circuit
• What is the role of arteries in the cardiovascular system?

  Act as pressure reservoirs
• How do arteries maintain blood flow during diastole?

  By acting as pressure reservoirs
• How is blood pressure measured?

  At the brachial artery
• What are the two values measured in blood pressure?

  Systolic pressure and diastolic pressure
• What is mean arterial pressure?

  Diastolic pressure + 1/3 pulse pressure
• What does the cardiac cycle consist of?

  Electrical and mechanical events of the heart
• What occurs during systole?

  Contraction and ejection of blood
• What occurs during diastole?

  Relaxation and filling of blood
• What is the function of the cardiac conduction system?

  Rapidly carries electrical impulses across the heart
• What is the sequence of the cardiac conduction system?

  SAN -> AVN -> Bundle of His
• What does an electrocardiogram (ECG) detect?

  Electrical activity across the heart
• What does the P wave in an ECG represent?

  Atrial depolarisation causing contraction
• What does the QRS complex in an ECG represent?

  Ventricular depolarisation causing contraction
• What does the T wave in an ECG represent?

  Ventricular repolarisation causing relaxation
• What happens during mechanical events of the cardiac cycle?

  Contraction increases chamber pressure
• How does blood flow occur during the cardiac cycle?

  From areas of higher to lower pressure
• What causes valves to open and close during the cardiac cycle?

  Pressure gradients
• What occurs during atrial systole?

  Atria contract, pressure increases
• What happens during ventricular systole?

  Left ventricle pressure rises sharply
• What occurs during ventricle ejection?

  Blood is ejected into the aorta
• What happens during ventricular diastole?

  Ventricular relaxation occurs