24) Cardiovascular Physiology

• How does oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood travel through the body:

  • Oxygenated blood: Lungs -> Pulmonary vein -> Left atrium -> Left ventricle -> Aorta -> Body
  • Deoxygenated blood: Body -> Vena cava -> Right Atrium -> Right Ventricle -> Pulmonary artery
• Three layers of the heart wall:

  • Endocardium: Inner layer of heart made of squamous epithelial cells
  • Myocardium: Middle layer of Cardiac Muscle responsible for contractions
  • Pericardium (Outer Layer of Connective tissue)
• The heart has valves between chambers to prevent backflow of blood
• Cardiac Myocytes have Desmosomes and Gap Junctions made of Connexins to allow electrical transmission