THE

HEART

Heart Diagram Label

FUNCTION

TO PRESSURIZE THE BLOOD AND CAUSE IT TO FLOW

THROUGH THE VESSELS.

LAYERS OF THE HEART

PERICARDIUM- A DOUBLE LAYERED SAC THAT COVERS THE HEART.

INSIDE THE SAC IS SEROUS FLUID WHICH PREVENTS FRICTION.

• MYOCARDIUM- THE HEART MUSCLE ITSELF. (THE THICKEST LAYER).

• ENDOCARDIUM- LINES THE HEART.

WHAT IS PERICARDITIS?

• AN INFLAMMATION OF THE PERICARDIUM

• USUALLY INFLAMMATORY OR VIRAL

• NOT USUALLY BACTERIAL

• DECREASED PRODUCTION OF SEROUS FLUID

• CAUSES A RUSTLING SOUND, A FRICTION RUB

PROBLEM

IF THE HEART CONTINUES TO RUB, THIS CAN EXERT EXCESS PRESSURE & CAUSE HEART

FAILURE.

WHAT IS ENDOCARDITIS?

• INFLAMMATION OF THE ENDOCARDIUM

• USUALLY THE ENDOCARDIUM COVERING THE HEART VALVES

• A BACTERIAL INFECTION

ANATOMY OF THE HEART

4 CHAMBERS:

• 2 SUPERIOR, THIN-WALLED ATRIA

• 2 INFERIOR, THICK-WALLED VENTRICLES

HEART VALVES

PREVENT THE BACKFLOW OF BLOOD (Tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, bicuspid

valve, Aortic valve)

animation of heart valves

find the heart with a virtual stethescope

http://www.smm.org/heart/heart/steth.htm

VALVE PROBLEMS

1. INCOMPETENT VALVETHE VALVE OPENS BUT DOES NOT CLOSE

COMPLETELY. BACKWARD LEAKAGE OCCURS.

THE HEART WORKS HARDER & THIS CAN LEAD TO HEART FAILURE.

2. VALVULAR STENOSIS

• A STIFF VALVE

• DOES NOT OPEN ALL THE WAY

• MOST OFTEN DUE TO A SERIOUS BACTERIAL INFECTION

• BACTERIA CAUSE FORMATION OF SCAR TISSUE ON THE VALVE.

NORMAL AORTIC VALVE

AORTIC STENOSIS WITH

CALCIFICATION

Tx

VALVE REPLACEMENT: EITHER MECHANICAL

MECHANICAL MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT

PATHWAY OF BLOOD THROUGH THE BODY(valves not included)

SUPERIOR & INFERIOR VENA CAVA & CORONARY VEINS

RIGHT ATRIUM

RIGHT VENTRICLE

PULMONARY ARTERY

LUNGS

Pulmonary veins

LEFT ATRIUM

LEFT VENTRICLE

AORTA

ARTERIOLES

Capillary (TISSUES) venule to veins

Please follow the path of circulation through the heart in the link below.

http://www.smm.org/heart/heart/pumping.htm

BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE MYOCARDIUM

THE HEART IS NOT NOURISHED BY THE BLOOD THAT PASSES THROUGH IT.

CORONARY ARTERIES SUPPLY O2 RICH BLOOD

B. MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (MI)

• A HEART ATTACK• PART OF THE MYOCARDIUM DIES

• DUE TO PROLONGED LACK OF BLOOD & O2• SCAR TISSUE FORMS

• SCAR TISSUE CANNOT CONTRACT • HEART BECOMES STIFF

• WORST MI?• THE LEFT VENTRICLE

FACTS1 MILLION DIE FROM HEART DISEASE IN

THE U.S. EACH YEAR

#1 CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U.S.MOST IMPORTANT Sx?

CHEST DISCOMFORT THAT LASTS FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES

Tx

1. CLOT BUSTERS2. ANGIOPLASTY

3. BY-PASS

CLOT BUSTERS

• TPA & STREPTOKINASE

• MUST BE GIVEN WITHIN THE FIRST 90 MINUTES

• WHY?• TISSUE DIES BY THIS TIME

• WHEN SHOULD YOU NOT GIVE A CLOT BUSTER?• WHEN THERE IS A CHANCE OF SURGERY

ANGIOPLASTY

• ALSO CALLED BALLOON SURGERY

• AN INFLATED BALOON IS PRESSED AGAINST THE WALL OF THE ARTERY TO COMPRESS THE

OBSTRUCTION (PLAQUE)

• ABOUT 2/3 FAIL WITHIN ONE YEAR

PLAQUEBLOOD VESSEL

BLOOD

OCCLUDED ARTERY

BALLOON TO BE INFLATED

HEART CONDITIONSA. ANGINA PECTORIS- CHEST PAIN DUE TO LACK OF O2

TO THE MYOCARDIUM

2 CAUSES:1. SPASM OF THE CORONARY ARTERIES.

COLD CAN TRIGGER.• Tx: NITROGLYCERINE

2. TOO MUCH PHYSICAL DEMAND• Tx: SLOW DOWN

BY-PASS SURGERY

• IS THE MOST DANGEROUS

• CHEST WALL IS CRACKED OPEN

• A VEIN IS USED TO REPLACE THE BLOCKED AREA OF THE ARTERY

• USUALLY A VEIN FROM THE LEG•

• ONLY GOOD FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS

Prevention Therapy

Recommendations: A baby aspirin each day

Who should avoid taking aspirin?

1. anyone with an allergy to aspirin 2. anyone with asthma

3. anyone with stomach ulcers4. anyone with bleeding disorders

5. anyone with reduced liver or kidney function6. anyone with uncontrolled high blood pressure