Chapter 13
An Overview of the Cardiovascular System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
Chapter 13
An Overview of the Cardiovascular System: Anatomy, Physiology, Assessment, and Abnormalities
The human heart is a hollow cone-shaped muscle that comprises three layers.
The outermost layer is the epicardium, the middle layer is the myocardium, and …
The vascular system is a circulatory network of arteries and veins essential for maintaining homeostasis.
The arteries carry oxygenated blood from the …
The cardiac cycle occurs during a complete heartbeat and consists of three phases: diastole, atrial systole, and ventricular systole.
The cardiac cycle …
The cardiac conduction system produces and transmits electrical impulses that prompt myocardial contraction, ensuring efficient heart function. This …
A cardiac action potential involves a series of electrical changes across the heart cell membrane, leading to contraction and relaxation.
Nodal cells and …
Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters per minute (L/min). In a resting adult, …
Cardiac output (CO), the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute, is a parameter in cardiovascular physiology determined by stroke volume and heart …
The regulation of the cardiovascular system is essential for maintaining homeostasis.
This process involves the autonomic nervous system, baroreceptors, …
Cardiovascular assessment involves gathering subjective data covering the following elements.
First, ask the patient to verbalize about past medical and …
Inspection is the first step in assessing the cardiovascular system, providing vital information about circulatory and cardiac health.
Begin by placing …
Palpation in cardiovascular examination assesses jugular pressure, maximal impulse, pulses, capillary refill, and edema.
First, place the patient in a …
Cardiac auscultation involves listening to heart sounds using a stethoscope.
The normal heart sounds are S1 and S2 and are heard using the …
Abnormal findings during the inspection and palpation of a cardiovascular examination include the following:
First, examine for signs of distress, such as …
Abnormal heart sounds such as S3 and S4 gallops, opening snaps, systolic clicks, and murmurs occur due to structural or functional issues during systole …
Orthostatic tolerance (OT) refers to the ability to maintain cardiovascular stability when upright, against the hydrostatic effects of gravity, and …
The capillary refill test was introduced in 1947 to help estimate circulatory status in critically ill patients. Guidelines commonly state that refill …
Longitudinal evaluations of critically ill patients by combinations of clinical examination, biochemical analysis and critical care ultrasonography (CCUS) …