MG I 2013-2014 English Course,

Home Assignment (1st semester)

Miroiu Andrei C 25

Chapter 8 Cardiovascular system



What is the cardiovascular system?
First of all, when we hear cardiovascular, we understand that the heart and blood vessels are
involved. More than that, system means complexity. So,
lets talk about how this system works.
Its central part is the heart, which is a hollow, muscular
organ lying in mediastinum between the lungs.
The role of the heart is to pump blood with oxygen, nutrients
and other vital products to body cells through a vast network
of blood vessels.

Which are those vessels?
Well, we have three different types: arteries, veins and capillaries.
The connection between them is like: HEART -> aorta (the bodys biggest artery) -> arteries that
branch in smaller vessels (arterioles) until they become microscopic vessels called CAPILLARIES. At
this level, the exchange of products between body cells and blood happens. After that, the
capillaries merge to form larger blood vessels named VENULES, which then combines to form VEINS
-> HEART again (simple, huh?)
The most important thing about them is to know which one carries O2 (oxygen) and which one
carries CO2 (carbon dioxide).
Arteries are the most flexible (because of their elastic layer) and
strong vessels. They carry blood with OXYGEN to the body cells -
>therefore their color is RED!!!
Veins return the deoxygenated blood back to the heart (using
skeletal musclecontraction, gravity, valves, respiratory activity) ->
their color is PURPLE!!!

HEART!
The heart is a muscular pump that delivers blood to the entire body through the vascular system. It
is found in a sac called pericardium and it has three distinct tissue layers: endocardium, myocardium
and epicardium.
It is divided into four chambers: 2 atriums and 2 ventricles. The right atrium and left atrium (upper
chambers) collect blood and the left ventricle and right ventricle (lower chambers) pump blood to
the body!!!

Conduction system of the heart
Within the heart, a specialized cardiac tissue
known as conduction tissue has the sole function
ofinitiating and spreading contraction impulses.
- sinoatrial node

- atrioventricular node


bundle of His

- Purkinje fibres
Electrocardiograph: records the electrical impulses made by heart, using a needle on a graph paper. Each letter from the
complex PQRST is associated with a specific electrical event.
-The P wave is the depolarization (contraction)
of the atria.
-The QRS complex is the depolarization
(contraction) of the ventricles.
-The T wave, which appears a short time
later, is the repolarization (recovery) of the
ventricles.


Pathology general symptoms
- Angina (chest pain), palpitations
- Dyspnea (breathing difficulties)
- Syncope (lose of consciousness)
- Arrhytmias (cardiac irregularities)





Learning activities! >> MY WORK <<

Learning activity 8-1>Identifying Cardiovascular Structures
















Learning activity 8 2>Building Medical Words
1. Tumor of fatty plaque atheroma
2. Hardening of fatty plaque - atherosclerosis
3. Inflammation of a vein (wall) phlebitis
4. Abnormal condition of a blood clot in a vein phlebotrombosis
5. Pertaining of a vein - venous
6. Spasm of a vein venospasm
7. Specialist in the study of heart cardiologist
8. Rupture of the heart cardiorrhexis
9. Poisonous to the heart cardiotoxic
10. Enlargement of the heart cardiomegaly
11. Softening of a vessel (wall) angiomalacia
12. Tumor of a vessel angioma
13. Beginning or formation of a blood clot thrombogen
14. Abnormal condition of a blood clot thrombosis
15. Abnormal condition of narrowing or stricture of the aorta coarctation, aortostenosis
16. Process of recording the aorta aortography
17. Puncture of the heart -cardiocentesis
18. Suture of an artery arteriorrhaphy
Brachiocephalic
trunk
Left common
carotid artery
Aortic arch
Apex
Chordae
tendineae
Interventricular
septum
Papillary
muscles
Superior vena cava
Inferior vena cava
Right atrium
Left atrium
Right ventricle
Mitral valve
Tricuspid valve
Right pulmonary arteries
Left pulmonary arteries
Left subclavicular artery
Aorta
Aortic semilunar valve
Left pulmonary veins
19. Removal of an embolus embolectomy
20. separation, destruction, or loosening of a blood clot thrombolysis
Check answers: 20 x 5 = 100%
Learning activity 8 3>Matching Pathological, Diagnostic, Symptomatic, and
Related Terms
1. area of tissue that undergoes necrosis - infarct
2. chest pain - angina
3. inability of a valve to close completely - incompetent
4. small masses of inflammatory material found on the leaflets of valves - vegetations
5. varicose veins of the esophagus -varices
6. soft, blowing sound heard on auscultation; murmur - bruit
7. thin, flexible, hollow tube that can be inserted into a vessel or cavity (vein or artery) of the body - catheter
8. sensation of the heart not beating normally - palpitation
9. blood clot that often forms in the legs and thighs and may lead to pulmonary thrombosis deep vein thrombosis
10. localized abnormal dilation of a vessel - aneurysm
11. mass of undissolved matter circulating in blood or lymph channels -embolus
12. inability of the heart to maintain a steady beat - arrhythmia
13. condition of being stopped or bringing to a stop - arrest
14. profuse sweating - diaphoresis
15. slender or threadlike device used to support tubular structures or hold arteries open during and after
angioplasty- stent
16. common disorder characterized by persistent elevated blood pressure - hypertension
17. excessive amounts of lipids in the blood - hyperlipidemia
18. narrowing of a vessel, especially the aorta -coarctation
19. local and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to circulatory obstruction - ischemia
20. circulation of blood through tissues perfusion
Check answers: 20 x 5 = 100%
Learning activity 8 -4 >Matching Procedures, Pharmacology, and Abbreviations
1. 24-hour ECG tracing taken with a small, portable recording system Holter monitor test
2. noninvasive ultrasound diagnostic test used to visualize internal cardiac structures - echocardiography
3. radiological examination of the blood vessels of and around the heart coronary angiography
4. agents used to treat angina - nitrates
5. drugs that have powerful lipid-lowering properties - statins
6. management of edema associated with heart failure and hypertension - diuretics
7. include troponin T, troponin I, and creatinine kinase cardiac enzymes
8. injection and detection of radioactive isotopes to create images and identify function and disease -scintigraphy
9. ECG taken under controlled exercise stress conditions stress test
10. tying of a varicose vein and subsequent removal ligation
11. surgical separation of the leaflets of the mitral valve -commissurotomy
12. removal of a small segment of an artery for diagnostic purposes arterial biopsy
13. destruction of conductive tissue of the heart to interrupt abnormal contractions catheter ablation
14. technique used to block flow to a site by injecting an occluding agent - embolization
15. procedure that alters a vessel through surgery or dilation - angioplasty
16. dilation of an occluded vessel using a balloon catheter - PTCA
17. surgery that creates a bypass around a blocked segment of a coronary artery - CABG
18. removal of occluding material using a cutting or grinding device -atherectomy
19. incision or puncture of a vein to remove blood or introduce fluids - venipuncture
20. destruction of a blood clot thrombolysis
Check answers: 19 x 5 = 95 %



Medical record activities!

Medical record activity 8 -1 >Chart Note:Acute Myocardial Infarction
Terminology
Acute having a sharp point
cardiac enzymes biochemical catalysts that are released into the bloodstream when muscles of the heart are damaged
CCU coronary care unit
ECG electrocardiogram; graphic line recording that shows the spread of electrical excitation to
different parts of the heart using small metal electrodes applied to thechest, arms, and legs
Heparin - an acidic glycosaminoglycan found especially in lung and liver tissue and having the ability to prevent the clotting
of blood, used in the treatment of thrombosis
Infarction - the formation or development of an infarct
Inferiorlow or lower in order/ rank/ degree
Ischemia- a decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue, or part caused by constriction or obstruction of the
blood vessels
Lateralthe side of, relating to, or situated at or on
MI Myocardial infarction;
Myocardial - the muscular tissue of the heart
partialthromboplastin time it is a performance indicator which measures the efficacy of coagulation pathways
streptokinasea protein secreted by several species of streptococci; used as an effective thrombolysis medication in heart
attack
substernalunder the stern


Chart Note: Acute Myocardial Infarction > Analysis
1. How long had the patient experienced chest pain before she was seen in the hospital?
- The patient was seen in 20xx, with history of an inferior MI in 19xx.
2. Did the patient have a previous history of chest pain?
- Yes, she did. The patient had an inferior MI in 19xx.
3. Initially, what medications were administered to stabilize the patient?
- She was given streptokinase and heparin at 800 units per hour.
4. What two laboratory tests will be used to evaluate the patient?
- The patient will be evaluated with a partial thromboplastin time and cardiac enzymes in the morning.
5. During the current admission, what part of the heart was damaged?
- She had an acute lateral anteriod myocardial infarction.
6. Was the location of damage to the heart for this admission the same as for the initial MI?
- It wasnt. The first MI was located inferior.








Medical record activity 8 - 2 >Operative Report: Right Temporal Artery Biopsy
Terminology
Arteritis inflammation of an artery
Betadine an antiseptic based on iodine
Biopsy -the removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes
Dissected -is the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure
Distallylocated far from a point of reference
Incised cut into a surface with a sharp instrument
IV - an apparatus for providing intravenous injections
Ligated - to tie or bind with a ligature
Palpable -capable of being handled, touched, or felt
Preauricular in front of the auricle of the ear
Proximally- nearest to a point of reference
Superficial fascia - is found in the subcutis in virtually all regions of the body, blending with the reticular layer of the dermis
Supine - lying on the back or having the face upward
Temporal -of, relating to, or near the temples of the skull
Xylocaine -a local anesthetic (trade names Lidocaine and Xylocaine) used topically on the skin and mucous membrane

Operative report: right temporal artery biopsy> Analysis
1. Why was the right temporal artery biopsied?
- The right temportal artery was biopsied to exclude a serious diagnostic consideration (as MI)
2. In what position was the patient placed?
- First, the patient was in supine position, then he was turned to the left side.
3. What was the incision area?
- The incision was made in preauricular area.
4. How was the temporal artery located for administration of Xylocaine?
- The temportal artery has been palpable.
5. How was the dissection carried out?
- Dissection was carried down through the subcutaneous tissue and superficial fascia, which was incised.
6. What was the size of the specimen?
- 1.5-cm segment of right temporal artery.

GROUP WORK!!!
My partner and I decided to make a link between endocrine system and cardiovascular system. We have seen that
hormones influence the heart rate, contraction strength, blood volume, and blood pressure . In the same way, the
estrogens help maintain vascular health in women. How? The cardiovascular system delivers oxygen (O
2
) and nutrients to
endocrine glands. It also transports hormones (ex. oxytocine, STH, hydrocortisone, tyrosine) from glands to target organs
(all organs). EASY!


REFLECTION
During our journey towards completing the English home assignment, we both
have learned many new things in the medical field and not only.
We learned how to listen to each other talking about his favourite anatomical
system, thus revealing small parts of each other`s personality. In a way, it was
representative for both of us.
Our strategy was simple, yet provoking: we had to stir up the other`s curiosity
on order to complete our objective - finding out more about the cardiovascular
system and the endocrine system. We thought it was of paramount
importance to have a certain base of knowledge before actually studying them
during the anatomy course. And it all went well. Understanding why the other
one thought a particular aspect was important meant it had to be. I suppose it
runs the same way in the human body.
We discovered how to compromise in order to create something organized
and interesting, since none of us wanted at first to give up on his idea. It was
hard at first, but no ground was conquered easily.
To sum up, we really enjoyed working on this project and feel that we are not
the same as we were when we started. After all, each journey implies a certain
evolution of the hero(es).