The document provides an overview of the anatomy and functions of the cardiovascular system including: 1. The heart chambers, valves, conduction system, and coronary arteries. 2. The circulatory system including arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins. 3. The functions of the cardiovascular system including circulation and regulation of heart rate. 4. Methods for assessing the cardiovascular system including health history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.

1. Page 1 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
A. Anatomy of the Cardiovascular System
1. Heart
 hollow, muscular organ that lies in the mediastinum
 rests on the diaphragm
a. Pericardium
- encases the heart.
- thin membranous sac containing 20-30 ml serous fluid
- protects the heart from trauma and friction
b. Heart Wall
- Epicardium: thin serous outer layer
- Myocardium: thick muscular middle layer
- Endocardium: smooth inner layer in contact with blood
c. Heart Chambers (separated by a membranous muscular septum)
- Right Atrium
low-pressure
receives systemic venous blood via superior & inferior vena cava
- Right Ventricle
low-pressure
receives blood from RA via tricuspid valve
ejects deoxygenated blood via pulmonic valve to the pulmonary artery
- Left Atrium
low-pressure
receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via four pulmonary veins
- Left Ventricle
high-pressure
receives blood from atrium via mitral valve
Ejects oxygenated blood to the aorta into systemic circulation
d. Heart Valves
- AV (Atrioventricularvalves )
 Tricuspid Valve between right atrium and ventricle
 Mitral valve between the left atrium and ventricle
- Semilunar valves :between ventricles and artery
 Pulmonic valve between right ventricle and pulmonary artery
 Aortic valve between left ventricle and aorta
- Papillary musles
 Muscle bundles on the ventricular walls
 Chordae Tendinae: fibrous bands extending from the papillary muscles to the valve cusps
e. Cardiac Conduction System
- propagation of electricall impulses throughout the myocardium (precursor to heart muscle contraction)
 Electrical Pathways
 SA (Sinoatrial) Node: pacemaker
o initiating rhythmic impulss t 60-100 impulses/minute
 AV (Atrioventricular) Node :
o receives impulses from the SA node, relays them to the ventricles
 Bundle of His:
o conducts impulses from the AV node (RBB & LBB)
o RBB and LBB terminate in the Purkinje fibers
 Purkinje Fibers:
o propagate electrical impulses into the endocardium and myocardium
 Electrical Impulse Activity
Phases of the electrocardiogram
Normal Sinus Rhythm

2. Page 2 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
f. Coronary Arteries
- supply the heart with blood
- Right Coronary Artery supplies blood to the right heart wall
- Left Main Coronary Artery supplies blood to the left heart
2. The Vasculature
a. The Circulatory System
- Pulmonary Circulation
 low pressure
 low resistance
 right side of the heart pumps blood into the pulmonary circulation
- Systemic Circulation
 high pressure
 high resistance
 left side of the heart pumps blood into the systemic circulation
b. Blood Vessels
- classified according to size, location and function
1. Arteries
 large diameter, thick-walled vessels
 carry blood away from the heart
2. Arterioles
 small, thick-walled vessels
 represent the major part of vascular resistance
 resistance vessels serve as "circulatory stopcocks"
 control the distribution of blood to various organs.
3. Capillaries
 extremely small, extremely thin-walled vessels (one cell thick)
 allow exchange of gases, nutrients, and other small molecules between the blood stream and
tissues
 in capillary hydrostatic pressure/permeability can lead to edema.
4. Venules
 small thin-walled vessels
 bring blood back to the heart
 highly distensible and contain a large fraction of the blood volume
5. Veins
 large diameter thin-walled vessels
 bring blood back to heart
 Distensible and contain a large fraction of the blood volume.

3. Page 3 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
B. Functions of the Cardiovascular Sytem
1. Heart
a. Cardiac Output
 volume of blood ejected by each ventricle in 1 minute (SV x HR)
 Stroke Volume : amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each heart beat
 Heart Rate : number of heartbeats per minute (60-100)
b. Cardiac Cycle
 each complete heartbeat
 Systole : contraction phase
 Diastole : relaxation (filling phase)
c. Heart Sounds
 results from vibrations caused by valve closure and ventricular filling
1st
 Sound S1, tricuspid and mitral valve closure
2nd
 Sound S2, aortic and pulmonic valve closure
3rd
 Sound S3, Ventricular Gallop
 Normal below 30 y/o, Pathologic in older (rapid diastole)
4th
 Sound S4, Atrial Gallop
 Resistance to diastole due to hypertrophy or injury of ventricular wall

4. Page 4 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
2. Vasculature
- responsible for distributing blood to various tissues of the body.
3. Neurologic Factors Regulating Heart Function
a. Sympathetic Nervous System Stimulation (norepinephrine)
 arteriolar vasoconstriction
 HR
 +inotropic f/x
b. Parasympathetic Nervous System (acetylcholine)
 HR
 slowed AV conduction
c. Chemoreceptors (carotid and aortic bodies)
 O2/CO2 = HR
d. Baroreceptors (aortic arch, carotid sinus, vena cava, PA, atria)
 HR = BP changes
C. Assessment
1. Health History
a. Chief Complaint
 Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction
 Pain (sterna, upper abdomen)
 belt-squeezing, radiating to shoulders, neck, arms
Arrythmias/Ischemia
 Palpitations
 rapid & irregular/pounding heartbeat
 Peripheral Vascular Diseasse
 Intermittent claudication (extremity pain with exercise)
Compromised Cardiac Function
 Dyspnea (DOB, SOB)
 Orthopnea
 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
 Decreased CO2
 Fatigue (with or without activity)
 Sudden Decrease in CO2
 Syncope (with or without dizziness)

5. Page 5 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
 Decreased Peripheral Perfusion
 Diaphoresis with clamminess and cyanosis
 Heart Failure
 Edema/Weight gain greater than 3lb in 24 hours
b. History for Risk Factors
Non-Modifiable
- Age,  incidence post 40 y/o
- Gender, greater in men but not after menopause
- Race, mortality greater for nonwhites
- + Family history of Cardiovascular Disease
- other illness (diabetic)
Minor Factors
- Personality type
- Sedentary living
- Stress (may contribute to the dev’t of coronary heart disease)
- Oral Contraceptive Use
Modifiable
- Smoking (2-4x greater risk to CardioVD)
- High calorie, fat, cholesterol, sugar and sodium diet
- High serum lipids (Hyperlipidemia), best indicator is HDL:LDL
- Hypertension (esp. elevated systolic pressure)
- Obesity, contributes to severity of other factors
- Sedentary Lifestyle
2. Physical Assessment
a. Vital Signs - PR, CR, BP, RR
b. Inspection
 distress, anxiety, altered LOC
 skin color (pallor, cyanosis) , buccal, peripheral
 neck vein distention - reflects right atrial pressure (Jugular Vein Pressure, JVD)
 respirations (dyspnea, orthopnea)
 presence of edema - fluid volume overload
 nail clubbing - sign of chronic hypoxia
 capillary filling - measure of peripheral circulation (less than 3 secs.)
 venous stasis or arterial ulcers , check sacrum for those on bedrest
 varicose veins
c. Palpation
 PMI (Located at 5th intercostal space, Left MCL)
 if too low indicates enlarged heart
 Thrills (palpable murmur) thrusts/heaves
 Peripheral pulses (carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalispedis, anterior tibial)
 check all bilateral and compare
 Grade 0:no puls
 1+:weak 2+:normal 3+:increased 4+:bounding
 temperature - check bilateral
d. Auscultation
 heart rate
 rhythm
 heart sounds S1 (lub) and S2 (dub)
 murmurs
 swishing sounds in-between heart sounds (Lub-swish-Dub)
 pericardial friction rub
 rough, grating sound from inflamed pericardial sac
 Bruit, murmur heard outside of the heart
 (carotid, jugular, temporal, abdominal, aortic, renal and femoral arteries)
 take B/P in both arms, lying, sitting and standing
e. Pulse Assessment
 note whether regular or irregular

6. Page 6 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
 Regular
o evenly spaced, may vary slightly with respiration
 Regularly Irregular
o regular pattern overall with "skipped" beats
 Irregularly Irregular
o chaotic, no real pattern, very difficult to measure rate accurately
 Tachycardia
o pulse greater than 100 beats/minute
 Bradychardia
o pulse less than 60 beats/minute.
∞ Tachycardia and bradycardia are not necessarily abnormal.
∞ Athletes tend to be bradycardic at rest. Tachycardia is a normal response to stress or exercise.
f. BP Assessment
 inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg above the estimated systolic pressure, release slowly.
 don’t use too small a cuff. The pressure will be 10, 20, even 50 mmHg too high
 Maximum Cuff Pressure - When the baseline is known or hypertension is not suspected, it is
acceptable in adults to inflate to 200 mmHg
 be aware that there could be an ausculatory gap (a silent interval between the true systolic and
diastolic pressures).
g. Perform Respiratory Assessment
- cough, crackles, wheezing, hemoptysis, cheyne-stokes respiration
h. perform Abdominal Assessment
- note liver enlargement /ascites, bladder distention, bruits just above the umbilicus
3. Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests
a. WBC count
b. Lipid Profile cholesterol:LDL, HDL, trigylcerides
c. Cardiac Enzymes (creatinine phosphokinase, troponin, lactate dehdrogenase)
d. Blood Coagulation prothrombin, partial thromboplasitn
e. Chest radiograph heart size
f. ECG heart’s electrical activity
g. HolterMontoring 24-hour ECG
h. Exercise ECG ECG with physical stress
i. Echocardiography cardiac (valvular) structures and fuction
j. Radionuclide Testing ventricular function, myocardial bloodflow
k. Cardiac Catheterization chamber pressures and O2 saturation
l. Arteriography coronary arteries (visualization)
m. Ventriculography ventricles (visualization)
n. Central Venous Pressure filling pressure of right ventricle, cardiac function
o. Pulmonary Artery Pressure left heart pressures
Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure
p. Arterial Line peripheral arterial pressures

7. Page 7 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
D. Health Promotion
1. Modifying Risk Factors
2. Preventing Venous Stasis
a. Leg Exercises
- for those with impaired mobility (bed-ridden)
- contraction of muscles promote blood back to the heart
b. Application of Antiembolism Stockings
- provide varying degrees of compression on different areas of the leg
- exert external pressure decreasing venous blood from pooling in the extremities
- MUST fit properly, and be applied in the morning before client has gotten out of bed
c. Use of Pneumatic Compression Devices (intermittent or sequential)
d. Avoiding Constriction
- garters, socks with elastic bands, orthopedic casts, leg-crossing
3. Edema Reduction
a. Elevation of Limbs-no pressure on points
b. Diet Teaching-restrict fat consumption ( 30% of daily caloric intake), limit salt intake
c. Fluid Restriction-until balance is restored, monitor I&O
 fluid retention=If greater than 2L
 wt gain > 1kg/day
4. Positioning
- lying flat promotes venous return
 (heart works harder in the supine than in the upright position)
- gravity enhances arterial flow
- hyotensive: elevate legs 20 to 30 degrees
5. Pain Management
a. Chest Pain
 stop all activity, rest, sit comfortably, avoid lying flat, administer O2, nitroglycerine SL,
assess BP & PR
b. Claudication, Peripheral Ischemic Pain
 not life-threatening but crippling; avoid cold, cigarette smoking
6. Increased Activity & Energy Conservation
 gradual and progressive
 refrain using the Valsalva maneuver
 have constant rest periods
 space activities
7. Client Teaching
 recognition of warning signs:
 perfusion
 promotion of blood flow & skin integrity
 avoidance of fatigue

8. Page 8 of 8
Ms. April Anne D. BalanonGreywolfRed
PRELIMS
The Respiratory and Cardiovascular System
HANDOUT 1 OXYGENATION:
8. Medications
 explain tx regimen to client and SO, provide written information
9. CPR
E. Nursing Diagnoses
1. Decreased Cardiac Output
 inadequate blood pumped by the heart to meet metabolic demands of the body (active or high risk)
2. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion (Renal, Cerebral, Cardiopulmonary, Gastrointestinal, Peripheral)
 decrease in oxygen resulting in failure to nourish the tissues at the capillary level
3. Activity Intolerance
 insufficient physiologic or psychological energy to endure or complete required or desired daily activity
F. Overview of Cardiovascular Alterations
1. Arrhythmias (Dysrhythmia)
 any sinus rhythm deviating from normal
2. Coronary Artery Disease
 focal narrowing of large and medium-sized coronary arteries due to plaque formation
3. Myocardial Infarction
 destruction of myocardial tissue in heart regions abruptly deprived of blood supply
 (due to  coronary blood flow)
4. Heart Failure (left sided or left ventricular & right-sided or right ventricular
 syndrome of pulmonary or systemic circulatory congestion
 caused by  myocardial contractility ( CO2 to meet oxygen requirements of tissues
5. Acute Pulmonary Edema
 rapid fluid accumulation in the extravascular lung spaces (alveoli and interstitial)
6. Cardiac Arrest
 sudden, unexpected cessation of the heart’s pumping action and effecting circulation
7. Endocarditis
 infection of the endocarium or heart valves due to bacteria/organsminvation
 (acute, subacute, chronic)
8. Pericarditis
 inflammation of pericardium (acute, chronic)
9. Pacemaker Implantation
 temporary or permanent electronic device to replace function of SA node
 pacer is in direct contact of the heart muscle wall, battery operated
10. Hemorrhage
 loss of a large amount of blood during a short period
 (internal, external, arterial, venous, capillary)
11. Valvular Disorders of the Heart
 stenosis (narrowing of the valve opening)
 regurgitation/insufficiency (failure of valve to close completely)