Physiology of the Heart: In a Nutshell (Nursing)

00:01 So in this lecture, we have learned all about the anatomy and physiology of the heart.

00:08 We've learned that the heart is a four-chambered organ that pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation and oxygenated blood to the body's tissues so that they can use the oxygen for metabolic purposes.

00:26 The chambers of the heart are separated by valves that prevent backflow.

00:32 There are four total valves of the heart including two atrioventricular valves between the atria and ventricles of the heart and two semilunar valves which separate the ventricles from the large arteries and veins.

00:51 There are three types of circulation that the heart goes through.

00:56 You have the pulmonary circulation which is going to go to the lungs in order to oxygenate deoxygenated blood, systemic circulation which sends oxygenated blood to the remainder of the body and coronary circulation which is going to provide the heart cells itself with oxygenated blood so that it can perform work as well.

01:22 The muscles of the heart also referred to as the myocardium are going to be composed of nucleated striated cells that are connected by desmosomes and gap junctions so that the heart can function as one syncytium or one single cell.

01:43 The pumping of the heart involves autorhythmic cells that can be found at different nodes in the heart.

01:49 These cells are unique in that they do not require nervous system stimulation for activity.

01:59 The contraction of the chambers of the heart is referred to as systole and relaxation of the heart is going to be referred to as diastole.

02:11 We measure cardiac output by looking at the stroke volume of the heart, as well as the heart rate.

02:19 And finally, we are able to measure heart activity using electrocardiography which uses or which has characteristic wave patterns that are associated with the polarization and depolarization of the different chambers in the heart.

02:39 And this concludes our lecture on the anatomy and physiology of the heart.

02:45 Thank you for listening.