1. the Cardiovascular/Circulatory System: an Overview

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM (CVS)

Pathology

This section will include you finding information about some of the pathologies and disorders involved in the CVS, which is the underpinning reason why you are studying this system. In year 2, you will learn in more detail about the relationship between these pathologies of the CVS and illnesses that have implications for communication and swallowing.

1. The cardiovascular/circulatory system: an overview

First, watch this video, a good summary of the circulatory (cardiovascular) system (in the same series as the musculoskeletal video you watched last semester): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIcAF34MPpU (just over 22mins long):

NB please be aware that US spellings are used. Haemoglobin, haemostasis, anaemia, polycythaemia etc are the correct UK spelling. If you are looking in the index of Tortora et al or Seikel et al, you will need to use the US spelling to search eg hemoglobin, anemia, ischaemia etc.

First, some general questions – can you summarise the main functions of the CVS?

And what are main components of the CVS?

2. Blood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGCdq5Vk1MQ (14 mins)

What is blood?

What are the 3 functions of blood?

What are the 2 components of blood?

Familiarize yourself with the meaning and function of the following:

Plasma

Red blood cells

White blood cells: there are several types. What are their names, and functions (a sentence for each will suffice)?

Platelets

Antibodies 2

What is meant by the term haematocrit?

How does blood clot? Here, you just need to understand the general concept, not the individual steps, which are complex. The main video on the circulatory system has given you a brief summary, which is sufficient.

Pathology:

What is anaemia? And which of the anaemias is the most prevalent type in the world?

What is polycythaemia?

Now some conditions and disorders which are of great relevance to our understanding of acquired brain injury (ABI); what the meaning and underlying cause of the following:

Hypoxia

Cyanosis

Haemorrhage

Thrombosis

Embolism

3. Blood Vessels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjNKbL_-cwA (1 minute) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2fuXberq8o (16 minutes)

How do the vessels contribute collectively to homeostasis?

How are the blood vessels organised within the human body?

Describe the features and functions of the following:

 Arteries

 Arterioles

 Capillaries

 Venules

 Veins

 Cerebral arterial circle

 Pulmonary trunk 3

 Pulmonary arteries why are they called arteries and not veins?

How does capillary exchange occur? The first video on the Circulatory System has a good summary (around 8 minutes in)

What is blood pressure? And how is it controlled? See around 12 minutes on the main Circulatory System video for a simple explanation.

What is meant by systemic vascular (aka total peripheral) resistance? What factors contribute to this?

Vasodilation and vasoconstriction: what part of the nervous system controls the diameter of the blood vessels? what type of muscle lies in the wall of these vessels? And finally, which of the blood vessels you have studied contain this type of muscle?

Why is the circle of Willis important? You have already studied the anatomy of the Circle of Willis in your head and neck lectures. Revise this using the video link under this topic on LS, and use the diagram supplied (the one you have printed off for this task) to understand the flow of blood into, out of, and around the Circle.

The pulmonary circulation has a lower pressure than the systemic circulation. Explain the reason for this.

How is venous blood returned to the heart?

Pathology:

Describe the causes and consequences of the following;

 Oedema

 Syncope

 Hypertension

 Cerebrovascular event (CVE)

 Myocardial infarction 4 5

4. the Heart

How the heart works: a quick guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAXa4eR1s0M (4 mins)

Where is the heart located?

What is the heart’s function?

Identify the following on the diagram of the heart (you can use the one supplied or find another one to suit) and briefly describe the function of the following:

 Pericardium

 Atria

 Ventricles

 Interventricular sulcus

 Interatrial septum

 Fossa ovalis

 Tricuspid valve

 Bicuspid valve

 Ascending aorta

 Descending aorta

 Myocardium

 Coronary arteries

 Autorhythmic fibers (you can find some information on these in Tortora et al, in the section on cardiac muscle, as well as in the chapter on the cardiovascular system. Recall that this muscle has a unique structure)

What is meant by systole and diastole?

What is meant by cardiac output?

How is the rate of the heart regulated?

Pathology:

Describe the causes and consequences of: 6

 Myocarditis and endocarditis

 Heart murmur

 Myocardial ischaemia and infarction

 Bradycardia

 Tachycardia

 Angina

 Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis

5. the Lymphatic System

Watch this overview first:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Wn0j3eJrA (2.5mins)

Then this more detailed introduction to the lymphatic system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9xhYGsUN4 (6.4mins)

Now, find the information needed to answer the following:

What are the main functions of the lymphatic system?

How are these functions achieved?

What are the two main lymphatic organs of the body? Briefly describe their functions.

What is lymph?

What is a lymph node?

Where are they located?

Name the location of the three pairs of lymph tissue in the oro-nasal cavity.

What is their specific function?

What causes lymph nodes to become enlarged?

Describe the circulation of lymph around the body. How does lymphatic fluid return to the main circulation?

Pathology: 7

Cancerous cells can spread via metastasis. What is the role of lymphatic system in this process? How else can cancer spread?