Tag: cardiology
- Influence of the Nervous System On Cardiac Output ()
Maintaining blood pressure is a complicated challenge that is handled very effectively by regulatory processes orchestrated primarily by the autonomic nervous system. These regulatory processes must operate over time scales ranging from very quick responses to changes in posture (e.g., a decrease in blood pressure when standing up) to responses to slower changes in blood […]
- How People Die: Cardiogenic Shock ()
Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency resulting from inadequate blood flow due to the dysfunction of the ventricles of the heart. Signs of inadequate blood flow include low urine production (<30 mL/hour), cool arms and legs, and altered level of consciousness. People may also have a severely low blood pressure and heart rate. Causes of […]
- Cardiac Output ()
Cardiac output, expressed in liters/minute, is the amount of blood the heart pumps in 1 minute. Cardiac output is logically equal to the product of the stroke volume and the number of beats per minute (heart rate). Easy enough, one may think, but the term cardiac in cardiac output is potentially misleading – with clinician’s […]
- How Blood Moves Through The Body ()
Blood Flow Away from the Heart As the heart pumps, blood is pushed through the body through the entire circulatory system. Oxygenated blood is pumped away from the heart to the rest of the body, while deoxygenated blood is pumped to the lungs where it is reoxygenated before returning to the heart. With each rhythmic […]
- Blood Vessels ()
Blood vessels are the channels or conduits through which blood is distributed to body tissues. The vessels make up two closed systems of tubes that begin and end at the heart. One system, the pulmonary vessels, transports blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium. The other system, the […]
- How Oxygen Gets Into Your Body From The Environment ()
Our lungs are among our largest vital organs. The oxygen you breathe in goes into your lungs and passes into your blood from there. It is then transported to all the cells in your body through your bloodstream. The lungs are located in the chest region, protected by the ribs in the rib cage. Their […]
- Circulatory System Structure ()
The heart is a muscular pump that provides the force necessary to circulate the blood to all the tissues in the body. Its function is vital because, to survive, the tissues need a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients, and metabolic waste products have to be removed. Deprived of these necessities, cells soon undergo irreversible […]