Anatomy Unit 2 Notes: Blood Pressure & Heart Disorders

1. UNIT 2 NOTES:
Blood Pressure &
Heart Disorders

2. (1) Pulse
• Pressure wave that travels through arteries
– Result of contraction and relaxation of artery
– Pulse Rate should = Heart Rate
• Could vary if blood vessel filled with fatty deposits or
damaged interior walls

3. (2) Blood Pressure
• Pressure blood exerts against vessel walls
• Keeps blood circulating
• Ventricles Contract:
– Blood forced into arteries
– Arteries expand as blood travels through
– Blood moves high  low pressure
• Blood continues to move into areas without blood
• Eventually moves back to heart (when heart empties
out)

4. (3) Measuring Blood Pressure
• Systolic Pressure
– Pressure in arteries
– Peak of ventricular contraction
• Diastolic Pressure
– Pressure in ventricles
– Relaxed ventricles
• Measuring Blood Pressure
1. Cuff is inflated/tightened until cuff pressure is greater than systolic
pressure
2. Blood flow in arm ceases
3. No pulse (heard + felt)
4. Pressure in cuff is reduced  listen for pulse sounds
5. Systolic Blood Pressure = first soft tapping sounds
6. Diastolic Blood Pressure = no more tapping sounds, constant flow
7. Expressed: “Systolic over Diastolic”

6. (4) Hypotension
• Low blood pressure
• Systolic = 100 and under
• Causes:
– Increase in fitness
– Change in body position and circulation of
blood pressure (sitting  standing)
– Poor nutrition (decreased viscosity)
– Blood loss

7. (5) Hypertension
• High blood pressure
• Systolic = 140 and over
• Causes:
– Damaged arterial walls
– Fatty deposits
– Increased viscosity of blood
– Increased stress

8. (6) Coronary Artery Disease
• Blood vessels fill with fat + calcium
deposits
• Constricts inner volume of blood vessels
• Severely increases pressure within blood
vessels
• Can build up + not allow blood flow

10. (7) Congenital Heart Defect
• Common in infants
• Causes:
– Maternal infection
– Drugs
• Defects:
– Valves do not open/close properly
– Septum separating right + left side may not be
complete
– Missing chambers/arteries

12. (8) Congestive Heart Failure
• Weaking of heart + blood vessels:
– Common in older + unhealthy individuals
• Pumping efficiency decreased:
– Decrease in blood flow
– Decrease in muscle contraction
• Vessels most likely clogged with fat + calcium:
– Leads to straining of heart muscle
– Damage to vessels  scar tissue in repair

13. (9) Heart Fibrillation
• Rapid uncoordinated
shuddering/pulsing of heart muscle
– Does not allow for proper pumping of blood
– Major cause of heart attack + death in
adults
• Tachycardia = rapid heart rate
• Brachycardia = slowed heart rate

15. (10) Thrombus vs. Embolus
• Thrombus  Clot in wall of blood vessel
• Embolus  Free Floating Thrombus
• Causes:
–Rough blood vessel tissue from burns,
ruptures, fat.
–Slow blood flow (low levels of activity)
• Aspirin: Common over the counter
anticoagulant.

18. (11) Thrombocytopenia
(Hemostatic Disorder)
• Low platelet count & Slow Clotting
Rate
• Typical of bone marrow cancer and/or
radiation patients.
• Caused by damaged liver  Cannot
make clotting factors.

20. (12) Hemophilia
(Hemostatic Disorder)
• Low Clotting Factor Count & Slow
Clotting Rate
• Either missing Clotting Factor #8 or #9